“I cannot play today … Fernando got chickenpox can we replace him with another player? … I do not have any money but I can I play? … Our team has two people that have not showed up. What should we do? … etc., etc., etc.”
For those of you who do not know me very well I am a bowler. I picked up the sport a few years ago mostly because there is not much to do Cochabamba, Bolivia. Another thing that you should know about me is have the DNA of leadership in my blood. You might even go as far as to call it a weakness. When I find something that I enjoy there is something within me that compels me to get others involved even when they do not want to. I am just wired that way. I sometimes find it hard to go to the grocery store without getting several people to help in the process.
So what do you get when you mix a leadership wired person with an activity that they enjoy? You end up forming a league. Get a bunch of people together and make a bowling association. Pretty innocent idea in theory until you start doing it.
Lesson in humility number one: We invited 8 churches all of which confirmed that they would be present for the leadership luncheon and planning meeting. Of the 8 only 4 showed up. Because they had confirmed their assistance at the restaurant we paid for the other meals of the other 4.
Lesson in humility number two: We planned a Saturday training session for those who did not know how to bowl to receive training. We reserved the bowling alley for the 40 people who had confirmed and 13 showed. I did not participate much because I was making phone calls seeing where everyone was.
Lesson in humility number three: The morning before the championship there was so much instability on our church team that we could not form our team until saw who showed up at the championship.
Lesson in humility number four: We planned for 6 teams. So many people came that we had to have 7 players. After making the adjustment at the last minute we ended up playing until 12:00 AM.
Lesson in humility number five: The excuses start rolling in. One player hurt his foot so he had to play on another day. One player had a birthday party to go to so she had to play on another day. Another player had to travel so they had to be rescheduled. One got grounded by their mother so they had to be rescheduled. Six people must have went in the rapture because they just did not show up the second day. One got the chicken pox. Another did not like their team. Etc, etc, etc. At the end of the day it might have been better to set-up a 24 hour help line to handle all of the support issues.
Lesson in humility number six: My score for the first day was pathetic because of the millions of little situations that aroused. “Pastor my score was recorded wrong … Pastor my ball is going to the gutter all of the time … Pastor where do I play at? … Can you teach me how to bowl a strike in the middle of the championship? … The lane is not working … How much do I need to pay?” and a million more questions. By the end of the first day I was so focused on everyone else that I was thrilled to have an average score.
Lesson in humility number seven: My secretary for the association and event was crying on the second day while trying to bowl because members of the team did not show up.
Lesson in humility number eight: “Dear pastor. Here is an email about the things that I think that are going wrong in the championship. We have been talking about it with a few people and we have noted a few things in detail. Just wanted to let you know because you will probably have to respond to these questions. Thanks. Blessings.”
So what did I learn? That in order to help others I must be more concerned about their success then my own personal bowling score. That most people do not realize the amount of work that goes into the things that they benefit from and that is okay. That falling short of our desired goals is a healthy part of the improvement process. Lastly when we can get others to leave their own little worlds and connect with others in on a social level we have done the earth a service. At the end of the day we filled the bowling alley and that is something we can rejoice in. Onward to the next event!
Click here to see more picture of the event on Facebook
Part of our Bowling team
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The list of what you learned (the last paragraph) was interesting to read. Thanks for sharing, babe.
It’s amazing that you didn’t get a few gray hairs…or pull your hair out during all this! Humility and patience lessons are some of the hardest to chew sometimes!! Congrats on successfully passing your lessons!
Can I just say that my absolute favorite lesson was number 6. not your score but the comments! jajaja! Absolutely hillarious!
So well recounted! Support hotline. HA!