Do the right thing

A month or two ago, I came across a video interview of the great Bill Russell, who is today 79 years old.  For those of you who don't follow NBA basketball, Bill Russell played for the Boston Celtics in the 50s and 60s, and is most well known for having won the most championships of any player in history (11).  Even Michael Jordan only won 6.  It was an interesting interview, and I took away a couple of things from it - particularly how this great champion kept referring to his Dad (whom really no one had ever heard of), instead of talking about his own astounding sporting achievements.

1.  Do the right thing - don't be conformed to the world's low expectations.
Bill Russell's mother passed away when he was a young child. This is the point at which, for many families, the father decides it's too much, and the kid gets fostered out or something.  But Bill Russell's father decided to quit his job and take a lower paying job to look after Bill.  Remember - this was in the 50s and 60s, when male/female stereotypes were even stronger.  Also, think about it, you've probably heard a lot about single mothers, but single fathers?  Not so much.

In other words, the world probably didn't expect Bill Russell's father to do very much as a Dad.  But he chose not to be conformed to the world's expectations.  And look how well he did - he brought up a world-beating champion.

In the same way, don't let the world tell you it's OK to be mediocre.  Don't let the world tell you it's weird to be on fire for Jesus.  Don't let the world tell you there's nothing wrong with a bit of compromise.  After all, everyone is doing it.  If we only do what everyone else, we'll only get what everyone else gets.  But if we stretch ourselves to reach for God's awesome plans, He will fill our cups to overflowing!

2. Do the right thing - don't forget who your real audience is
Bill Russell's Dad knew who he was giving up his job for - his kids and his wife, whom he had promised to look after the kids before she died.  This must have made a big impression on Bill Russell.  When the interviewer asked Bill Russell what was the most important trophy of all the many team and individual trophies he won, he was surprised when Bill Russell said the most important trophy was the Most Valuable Player trophy from his first All-Star game.

Now those of you who follow basketball know that the All-Star game is essentially just a friendly game.  So why did Bill Russell regard this trophy as being more important than all the world championships he had won?  He explained that before that All-Star game, his father had come up to him and asked Bill whether he thought he would do OK in his very first All-Star game.  Bill told his father, "Sure.  In fact, I'm going to win the Most Valuable Player and show you."  And he did.

Bill Russell knew which member of the world's audience was important to him - his Dad.

In the same way, let's keep in mind who our real audience is - God.  Only and always.  Then we'll be clear about what's really important to do, and in what priority.

3.  Do the right thing - give your best to the things that really matter
After Bill Russell was recognized as a superstar, he got a $100,001 contract ($1 more than his chief rival, Wilt Chamberlain).  Bill then went to his father and told him "Dad, you have a terrible job, with awful hours.  You don't need to work any more now.  You can retire now!"  His Dad thought for a couple of seconds, and then replied "Nah.  I gave 30 of the best years of my life to this terrible job.  I'm gonna make sure they get some of my bad years too!"

This was a joke of course.  But let's not do that to God in our own lives - only giving God the "bad years" after we use up the "good years" building our own palaces and achieving our own goals.

I hear many people tell me this.  I think the same myself sometimes.  That we'll serve God or give back to community when we're done with earning money, or bringing up the kids.  Basically, what we're saying is that we'll give God the leftovers after we're done eating.  How arrogant we are!  Let's determine to do what He calls us to do today, while we have our best, fit, energetic years.  And let's make fulfilling His work and mission a very part of what we do day in and day out at work and at home.  Give Him all our good years right away, not the leftover bad ones - doesn't He deserve the good ones?  And need we ever worry that He will shortchange us for them?  Never!

4. Reflect the Father's glory!
If we do all this, then, like Bill Russell insistently reflected the glory of his earthly father and gave his father credit for all his son's achievements during the interview, so will we reflect the glory of our heavenly Father and bring Him honour and praise for all things!