In the movie, the coach, Gordon Bombay was hailed as the “Miracle Man” for turning a
no-name inner-city peewee team into a champion team that goes all the way to
the Olympics and beyond. But if you noticed every time Gordon or Charlie was
sidetracked a little known storekeeper Hans or his brother Jan set them back
on track. In MD1 and MD3 Hans was the behind the scenes mentor that changed
everything. In MD2 his Brother Jan stepped in while Hans went back home to
Scandinavia to visit his Mom. But these two never got the recognition they
deserved for being there to mentor Gordon and the rest of the team to success.
They gave without thought of reward. They just wanted to see the Ducks fly.
This
reminded me of years ago when I took it upon myself the mentor or disciple
young Christians in my workplace and church. My philosophy was that the best
way to mentor people was to do it in a way that they did not know you were doing
it.
Years later
some of these young guys became leaders and when I hear them stand and speak
giving someone else recognition for helping them achieve their success, I have
to put away my ego and admit, “I was a success.”
In Matthew
11:11 in the Bible, Jesus speaks this line, “Assuredly, I say to you, among
those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist, but
he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” My late pastor used
to quote this but he always said that the last part was troubling and he could not
explain it. These movies gave me a little light on the verse.
In Luke
22:24-27 it says, “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them
should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the
Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over
them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is
greatest among you let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who
serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it
not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” The
one who serves is the greatest, unlike what we have been taught by the values
of this world, business or church.
I know a
brother who every time a group of us gets together he helps in the kitchen or
sets up. It comes very naturally to him because he has what the Bible calls a “gift
of helps.” This is mentioned in 1 Cor. 12:28. As long as I’ve known him since the early 80’s
he has been this way, greater than John.
My wife is like this. Every time we get together with others, she has to
ask, “What can I do to help?” And she looks hurt when they tell her, “Nothing,
we’ve got it”. She is greater than John.
When we
mentor or disciple, we must be like Han and Jan. Give without wanting
recognition. And you will be a miracle worker in the life of the one you teach.
You will be greater than John and greater than Gordon. Your reward is in
Heaven.
Wayne Brooks
10/13/2019
10/13/2019
