When Their Eye is on You

We often did not see the forest for the trees this past several months. When we were in the thick of crazy gluing our fingers to 1/16th inch balsa, or ripping mylar for the millionth time, or winding the rubber motor such that the helicopter drilled downward into China, or flinging the projectile backwards instead of forwards with our trebuchet.....it just felt hopeless. But today, ready or not, our contraptions must fling and fly... or flop. It is in God's hands now. Off to the Science Olympiad competition we go, hi ho, hi ho.

The kids really could not have worked harder. Whatever happens, they will never have to say ,"If only we had put more time into it or given more effort."  They do not need to win, place, or show to earn my admiration. They have already earned it. I hope they are rewarded for all their hard work, but it is possible they won't be, not with ribbons and trophies anyway. Their rewards may have to be satisfaction that they did their best. Not many people can say that.

Our Bible study yesterday was Ephesians 6. I think it is one of the single most succinct chapters in how to live a Christian life. A verse I pull out frequently to motivate my kids is paraphrased- work as for the Lord and not for men. Work wholeheartedly whether anyone is watching or not.

How many of us do that?  Yet I saw the kids I coach do that week after week after week. I am so proud of them. Can you tell? I only wish I had been a better coach...like one that knew something....anything......But they labored on in the face of being taught by someone who knew just as much as they did...zilch.

But we all know more than zilch now. We know that crazy glue can be filed off of skin with an emory board, but be prepared to say ouch now and then. This was a valuable lesson. We learned other valuable lessons as well. We learned that the serving size on the Girl Scout Cookies package is way too low. And that breaks now and then to go snowboarding make 80 hour weeks more bearable. We also learned that the simplest solution is best and neophytes should stick to basics.

Anyway, I would write more, but I have a competition to get to with the best kids on earth.

Ephesians 6: 6-8
⁶ Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷ Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, ⁸ because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.