A coach looks at his players strengths and weaknesses and decides who will play and how long they will play the game. Players may come out of the game to get some rest or to give someone else some playing time.

When I played softball in college, our short stop had a very contagious, positive personality. When she was out of the game, you could tell the difference on the field. The game of life is no different. When a loved one leaves the playing field, they are dearly missed. As a player who believes in Christ as His Savior, this is a welcome call home. The rest of the team will miss them dearly, but can find our peace in knowing that our Creator, our Coach, has a plan.

God puts each of us in the game of life at just the right time, His time. God will also pull us out of the game at just the right time, His time. Some of us will get more playing time than others, but we each have some choices to make. How will we play while we are in the game? Am I focused on my purpose? Am I enjoying playing the game? Giving the glory to God? Lifting others up along the way?

Last weekend, our FCA Endurance huddle had two relay teams in the Ragnar del Sol running relay from Prescott, AZ to Tempe, AZ. During our rest leg, we were awakened by sirens. A runner was giving aid to a teammate and was struck by a car. He died a few days later. Robby Mayasich, high school senior, was called out of the race of life by His creator. His team, and family, misses him terribly. May they find peace in knowing that the same God, who blessed them dearly by putting Robby in their lives, loves them and needs them to stay in the race a bit longer. God had a purpose for Robby. He has a purpose for his family. He has a purpose for each of us, no matter how much playing time we may get.