Know it All

I worry that I’m becoming an obnoxious fan. Honestly, I have a very specific philosophy when it comes to cheering at ball games, especially local games, though I sometimes struggle to maintain that philosophy. As a fan I think it’s important to cheer for your team and players, to encourage and motivate them and not to attack the other players, coaches, fans or even the refs. Honestly, though, I sometimes struggle with the ref’s side of it. But I can be very vocal, which I realize might annoy some people, which is where my worry comes in.
But I also believe that cheering for your local team is important. It shows comradery and support. It unites a group of people under a banner that brings them closer together. And when you’re cheering for a team rather than attacking the other team that can be a very positive bond.
And bond is an important part of a local community. I know, personally, I choose to live here primarily because of that bond. There are other positives, too, but that connection and community experience is so important to me.
The recent emergency board meeting concerning the mandate on masks in the school was encouraging to me in terms of this bond. And I was only present for a few minutes but I also read the article in the paper and spoke with a few people about it, but overall I feel like it was handled well on both sides. The parents and community members were bold and confident in their sharing, but they were also respectful. The board members and staff were willing to listen and ask questions as well. And though I’m sure there were many people who were disappointed with the final outcome, I think the process shows so much about our community and how we want to make it work.
The NLT translation of Romans 12.16 seems to fit this idea well, and is humbling for me: “Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!” I think that last sentence is the most challenging for all of us, especially when it’s something we’re passionate about. We feel like we have the right answer and if everyone just listened to us then life would be good. But that’s not true at all. Even the most educated, researched and trained individuals aren’t perfect and need to have input into their lives to make the best choices. And, sometimes, God loves to use the most unlikely source to show us that, maybe even ‘ordinary people.’
So I pray that each one of us can hold tight to that which is most important, the relationships and community that we live in, rather than whatever knowledge we may have. God bless.