“I
know who goes before me; I know who stands behind”
I
call it the baseliner’s dilemma: when an opponent hits an approach shot, you
must decide whether to follow the return into net or recede to the baseline. The
safe option seems to be to withdraw from net after hitting the approach shot. If
you remain at net, you leave a vulnerable, open backcourt. Protecting the
baseline and allies from a distance seems more advantageous. But, here’s the
dilemma--The more courageous and rewarding choice is usually to remain at the net.
Here at net, you theoretically can attack any ball that finds its way over it.
It is a risk that pits your diligence and skills against an opponent’s
strategic grit.
Today
is Easter Sunday, and so fittingly I will tie this ‘dilemma’ into one that
Christ’s followers surely tackled. Jesus diligently called his disciplines to
come to the net—to leave behind their families, jobs and belongings and follow
him. These fishermen were called to the net, not knowing whether or not leaving
an empty boat (backcourt) was the right decision. They had faith to trust,
though they all probably doubted Jesus at some point. Jesus summoned them to
His net, to walk away from the net offered by the world.
I
often wonder what I would have done if I were in a similar dilemma. I am where
I want to be in my career right now. I love my family, my home, car and
belongings. I like to think I would have the courage and faith to follow Jesus.
I hope that I would sacrifice anything to follow Him, but I know I am weak in
the flesh. This world, like the tennis backcourt, offers us glory, protection
and freedom. Would any among us give those up to follow the Son who sets us
free? Would we go to, and stay at the
net? Jesus and his disciplines knew
pain, hurt and persecution. They knew what lied ahead even as they chose to follow
their Messiah.
Jesus
promises his followers he will provide them the courage they need to be catching
people. He promises not to allow anything over that net we can’t handle. In
tennis, the net is your strength, and so it is with Christ. Some people, some
passing shots, may get away and spill out into the backcourt. Others might
crash into the net, too weak to face you. Still others may go beyond the
baseline and be too far gone to draw back. A missed opportunity--one that may
come up again deeper into the match. Any situation calls for us to come to the
net. We, as Christ’s followers, are called to be catching-people, to conquer
our fears through courage, to stand up and protect our court. It is a
worth-while dilemma, always.
“My
strength is in Your name; You crush the enemy underneath my feet”
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