The Big Serve

As the father of a high school senior who is currently faced with some difficult but exciting decisions about his future as a college student-athlete, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about how he’ll make his final decision on such an important issue.

There are many things to consider when you’re looking to find the school that represents the right fit for you. In my son’s case, he’s listed academic quality as his most important priority, but after that, things like quality of campus life, his future coach, tuition costs, etc., all come into play.

Like other challenges in life, I have relied on my faith for guidance in walking through this with him. I believe I’ve found in Matthew 20:26-28 at least part of God’s plan for my son: “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.”

Most people know that having a big serve in tennis is a huge advantage. No matter how good your ground strokes or your volleys, a big serve can many times mean the difference between winning and losing a close match. In our spiritual lives, I find that a big serve is what God asks of us, as well. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV), God tells us, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

While my son is still looking at school options and probably won’t make his final decision until early 2011, I do pray that wherever he goes to study and play tennis, he’ll be able to use his many gifts to make a difference in the world and hit “the big serve” both on and off the court. May we all do the same and serve the Body of Christ wherever we are.