I’m not an avid sports fan, though I’m excited enough about the University of Memphis basketball that I have season tickets.
Through the years, the U of M football has been overshadowed by our basketball. The last few years we have had “good” football with Brady White, an outstanding quarterback. He left the University of Memphis as the school’s all-time Leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and wins.
A recent news article talked about how those who are seeking to succeed him in leading our team are being evaluated: accuracy in throwing the pass whether the correct decision was made in calling a pass play, completions, handoffs…most of all, are they taking coaching and are they improving? After each practice, performances are evaluated by the coaches and shared in a meeting the next day.
Not long after I read this news article, one of the words of Jesus came to mind: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to life, and those who enter by it are many. For the the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
Jesus’ command is clear and challenging. There is a wide, easy way and a narrow, hard way. The narrow and hard way leads to life. The difference between the two ways is that of the discipline.
There is an old adage which claims that “practice makes perfect.” Like all generalities, it is not completely true but it has more than enough truth to make an authentic claim upon our lives. We know, for example, the arduous practice to which a master musician must be committed. As we listen to a great pianist, we know that the superb performance did not come without discipline, the toil and sweat of repetitious labor. A popular saying is true: “You can’t buy a fiddle today and give a concert in Carnegie Hall tomorrow.” It is true in other efforts than music. Discipline is not optional; it is essential.
This is especially true in the Christian life. We may be converted to Christ in the miracle of a moment, but becoming a saint is the task of a lifetime. Also, we are all called to sainthood. We are called to grow up in Christ (Ephesians 4:15), to become mature in Christ (Colossians 1:1-28). As Christians we do not emerge full-blown; we grow. We grow by discipline: scripture reading and reflection, prayer, worship, deliberate Christian conversation, solitude, and practicing generosity.
The purpose of discipline is not to constrain us, but to free us, to liberate us as we are empowered to exchange lesser values, habits, styles, and attitudes for ways that are life giving.
Four persons are practicing quarterback skills daily, disciplines that will prove themselves as the ONE to succeed Brady White as the leader of the University of Memphis football team. I’m not practicing spiritual disciplines for their own sake or as acts of denial; I want to be free of the stifling slavery of self-interest and all that robs me of meaningful, joyful living.