Teamwork

With today's emphasis on individual achievement, we often forget the power and the importance of working as a team. Too often in today's media, we only look at the 'stars' and forget about the people who play every moment beside them, but didn't score the critical points at the crucial times. It's true, we don't have the time to listen to every player's story, but behind every player's story is the story of a team. Teams are not limited to their physical representations: such as the clothes they wear, how they cut their hair or the words and phrases they use to describe themselves. Teams are born out of adversity, hardship and the moments when players need to step out of their own egos and do something selfless. Considering this definition, there may very well be groups of players with logos, staff hierarchies and numerous fans that are not teams. The concept of team runs deeper than the superficial bells and whistles of media promotion.

So what is a team, and where do we find them? In the athletic arena, a team is marked by the behavior of its sideline: be it a bench, dugout, hole, deck or other appropriately named space. You can judge a team's togetherness by how it responds to adversity. Do the players individually fall apart? Or do they rally to one another? Do they throw temper tantrums? Or do they channel their emotions? Do they move as one? Or are they out of sync with each other?

While I was in college I had the opportunity to film a season of American College Football from 'the crow's nest' (in other words I stood on a lift about 10 feet behind the tallest point of the goal post). During this time I had an ample view to watch teams react to adversity. I watched highly ranked and going-no-where teams compete against the team I called mine. So obviously my perspective was jaded :) What I found interesting, was a consistent fall apart and get angry attitude among other teams when they didn't perform as they expected. I also watched players give up on the field; they kept going through the motions, but their bodies said they wanted to be somewhere else. They had given up, and accepted the final outcome, even though it hadn't happen yet. I'm not saying my team was perfect, but they did have an attitude of-stick-togetherness and keep playing that helped them rally, even against much stronger opponents. There was something about this, 'pound the rock' attitude, that other groups didn't seem to posses. They could keep going as long as they saw hope, but take their definition of hope away and they were done. Even if it was halftime. Real teams kept playing, no matter the digits on the scoreboard.

The greatest demonstration of team unity I ever saw, wasn't from my own sideline. Yes, it was a championship game, so everyone was rapturously watching the ball. But I watched an entire sideline link hands and take a knee, with just a few minutes left in the game. Yes, it was a crucial play. Yes, it had the ability to win or lose the game. But even so, that kind of unity is rare. It's the kind of unity that says, "Even if we don't make it, we're in it together." It's this kind of attitude that produces humble players, not self-glorifying stars. It's rare to see teams behave as one; its much more common to see a few outspoken individuals. And since our media glorifies a few, it usually by passes humility. Even though humility builds a team.

At the heart of these together-driven teams is another attitude. Trust. Not the trust that says, "if you screw up, you're done" but the kind of trust that says, "if you screw up, we'll find a way to fix it," This runs contrary to the mindset that says, "we can always find someone else". Real teams don't look for external answers to their problems, they look inside for solutions. They don't assume that bringing in some more talent would make them a stronger group, they look internally for those who are already present to step up and lead. They expect each other to find solutions, not sit and wait for someone with more authority to make a decision. But even so, if someone in authority makes a choice, they find the best way to implement the decision by coming together, not just doing as they've been told.

While these opinions may sound spiritual and promising, they are but a manifestation of a greater concept. Shalom, which means total flourishing. A true team helps each of its members reach their potentials by supporting, encouraging, rebuking and tough loving. Shalom applies to every area of life together. It is indivisible. We either practice Shalom, or we practice a poor substitute that doesn't even deserve to bear the name. That poor substitute is expressed in groups of players who call themselves a team, but in reality do not practice the depth of being a team. I could say its the difference between a group of guys who occasionally hangs out together, and a brotherhood or fraternity. Sure it's nice to hangout with people, but Shalom is better. Shalom is not the absence of adversity, rather it is the presence and acceptance of the challenge, and a promise to keep working, to keep pounding the rock.

When I think of the modern conception of church, I think its more of a hangout place. When I think of the Church Jesus lived and died, and still lives for, I think of a brotherhood, a sisterhood, a family. I think that's part of the issue of today's Christendom. We're not exactly thrilled about a religious place to hang out. We do want to be part of a team. We do want Shalom. But if that's what we want, that's who we need to be. We need to be the team players with humble hearts who know they won't receive much media glory. We need to be those who are willing to pound the rock, even when the scoreboard says all hope is gone. We need to find a way internally to change the world around us, not pray for an external miracle to sweep us off our feet. We need to show up everyday and help our world and our teammates flourish, even if we aren't wearing matching uniforms! Being a team isn't about company names, logos, physical attire or the perks of joining the frat. It's about finding a way through all of the chaos, through the frustration and through the muck to let a few small and beautiful things flourish. And to find a way to keep those few small things flourishing, until they become big beautiful things.