As a passenger on a cruise ship, the mindset is “serve me.” Cruise ships exist to provide pleasure and entertainment. When reviewing a good cruise ship, here are questions to evaluate:
- Is the service
good? 4. Are my needs met
promptly?
- Do I like the music
and entertainment? 5. Am I
comfortable?
- Am I well fed?
If
you look again at those questions, notice the focus is on self. Another type of
ship--a battleship--is designed to serve the nation it represents, not self . Here
are questions for those serving on a battleship to consider:
- Is the ship on a
clear and noble mission?
- Is the ship able to
endure storms?
- Does the crew have
proper training and experience and are equipped to succeed?
- Does the crew
cooperate with the captain, leaders, and crew members?
- Are the crew
members taught to be disciplined and vigilant?
- Are crew members at
their posts (i.e. are responsibilities understood)?
- Does the ship have
adequate first aid and medical help?
- Is the crew
properly able to distinguish lesser threats from greater ones?
Those
on a battleship say, “We’re preparing for war,” but those on a cruise ship say,
“We’re on vacation.” Team members on a battleship think, “It’s all about the mission
and the crew,” while passengers on a cruise ship think, “It’s all about me.” The
battleship mentality is, “I am part of the crew,” while the cruise ship mindset
is, “I must be served by the crew.”
As
an officiating crew, our mindset has to be that of a battleship not a cruise
ship. We prepare for battle (i.e. physical requirements of a game, tough
penalty enforcements, communication with coaches and players), not focusing on
self. We serve the crew, not self. We take care of our responsibilities to
serve the crew, not just our own individual needs. Listed below are specific ways
we can emulate those going to battle:
·
Be dedicated--prepare
individually but with the crew in mind (video
review, rules study)
·
Be durable—don’t be
easily discouraged (bounce back from a tough evaluation)
·
Be focused—don’t be
easily distracted (don’t allow coaches/fans’ opinions influence
our next call)
·
Be delightful---think crew
vs self in all decisions
(clean your locker, straighten the conference room)
The
cruise ship mindset is one of ease. The battleship mindset is one of urgency. Just as soldiers are diligent at their post, vigilant as
watchmen, loyal to their cause, fight to win, and steadfast at all times,
officiating crews should mirror those same traits to be ready for each game.
Psalm 18:39 ESV: For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those
who rise against me sink under me. In this verse, King David acknowledges God as the source of his abilities
and success and reflects how God's strength helped him win battles against
powerful enemies. David credits God with rewarding his obedience by making
him a successful military leader. God provides the strength needed for
victory.
A
cruise ship coddles and pampers. A battleship stands and delivers.
Credits:
https://blog.adw.org/2018/05/church-cruise-ship-battleship/
https://www.idisciple.org/articles/christianity-is-a-battleship-not-a-cruise-ship/
