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Three-and-a-Half Hours on Sunday
By Scott Harrup | February 5, 2010
In anticipation of Super Bowl XLIV, National Public Radio yesterday aired an interview with former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick. Fresh Air contributor Dave Davies opened the interview with the following observation.
“It’s hard to think of another job where you work seven days a week… 80, 90, 100 hours a week… sleep in your office… live on coffee and caffeine… and work around the clock. But you’re really judged by what happens in 3½ hours on Sunday.”
Billick agreed with Davies and offered his own perspectives on the challenges of coaching.As I listened, I thought of another job Davies and Billick probably haven’t considered — the ministry. My dad’s retired now, but for years as a pastor he put in major overtime each week before preaching the Sunday morning sermon that became the one point of evaluation for much of his congregation.
(Where Davies’ comparison would not apply to Dad was the caffeine consumption. I drink gallons of coffee; Dad eschews even chocolate.)
Whether you’re standing behind a pulpit or sitting in a pew this Sunday, however, you’re also subject to a certain degree of rapid scrutiny from everyone present. And while we’re all being evaluated, we’re also doing plenty of evaluating on our own.
That’s not always bad. We interpret much of our lives through the viewfinder of a moment. But my takeaway from my little NPR mental journey has me exercising more caution in making snap judgments. And it has me looking at my day-to-day life and determining to keep it consistent with the Sunday-go-to-meeting persona my church family sees.
Topics: Family Life, News |
