Hunter could not stop ringing his hands as he anxiously waited for his name to be called. “Maybe I’m not good enough to make the team,” he thought to himself.
“Cody Johnson,” the coach called out, followed by “Parker Edwards.”
There were only a few slots left. Hunter tried to wipe the moisture from his palms, but it just came back as quickly as he could wipe it away, on his shorts.
“Hunter Bale.” The coaches voice seemed to come from a distance.
“Did he just call my name?” Hunter whispered to Parker.
“Hello? Weren’t you listening?” Parker’s responded sarcastically.
Then if finally sank in. He had done it. He made the team.
“That’s it for today. Report to practice on Monday at four o’clock,” Coach dismissed the young athletes before crossing the field to his office.
Hunter’s thoughts took off like a rocket. He pictured himself running out onto the field with his new number. After that, sweet victories, and eventually, a college scholarship. What amazing opportunities awaited him. God seemed to be smiling down on him.
“Woe, get back to reality,” he finally told himself. I haven’t even been to the first practice yet. But still, this was a big step.
After changing and showering, he shoved his clothes into his old bag, slammed his locker, and headed out into the hallway. He rounded the corner and joined the flow of bodies.
“Hunter! Hunter!” a voice called out through the noise corridor.
Hunter turned around to find Jose weaving his way toward him. He couldn’t wait to tell his long-time friend the good news. “Hey, guess what. I made the team!” He and Jose had practically grown up together. Their families had known each other long before the boys were born.
Jose stared back with his thick, dark eyebrows wrinkled. He didn’t share Hunters excitement. “What about band?” He asked.
“What about it?” Hunter shot back, a little annoyed that Jose wasn’t happy about his major achievement.
“Remember our deal? We agreed that we were going to play in the band together until we graduate. Don’t tell me you forgot about that.”
Hunter recalled the conversation. He couldn’t deny that he had discussed their future in the band, but he had made no promises. He searched for a response, but words could seem to find their way to his mouth.
“You know you can’t play on the team and be in the band at the same time,” Jose reminded him.
“Sure I can,” Hunter responded.
“What are you talking about?” Jose was growing more annoyed. “You are the best trumpet player in the school. Why do you want to give that up to play some dumb sport. Who knows if the coach will even let you play. You could end up on the sideline.”
Again, Hunter could not disagree. “Why are you so upset. It will all work out.” But deep down he didn’t really believe the word coming out of his mouth.
“Whatever. I think you are kidding yourself.” Jose spun around and disappeared into the crowd.
Hunter didn’t move until two girls pushed their way past him. The nearest one bumping him with her shoulder. He shook his head, as if to bring himself back to reality, and then join the flow of students down the hallway.
Later that evening, Hunter reclined in his desk chair. After several unsuccessful attempts to focus on his math homework, he sighed deeply, and tossed the pencil onto the desk. Jose’s disappointed face haunted him. Hunter hadn’t expect his friend to take this so seriously. If the situation were reversed, he would support his friend no matter what.
Alone in his dimly lit bedroom, Hunter considered his options. Beside Jose, he had other friends in the band. His eyes drifted to the corner where his trumpet case rested. The instrument seemed to come naturally to him. With a little practice, he could play musical pieces that others struggled with.
But the team was an opportunity to do something different, to make new friends, and conquer new challenges. Of course his friend, Jose, was right. He could not do both. Life seemed to move quickly. He wondered how he even got himself into this situation. He sighed again. It didn’t really matter how it happened. What mattered was what he should do next.
Over the coarse of the next few days, Hunter looked for help. He figured a quick conversation with his father and mother was all he needed to clear up the matter, but his parents only gave him general advice.
“We will support you in whatever you decide,” Hunter’s mother said with a reassuring smile.
His friends were no help either. They simply shrugged and told him that the decision was his to make. Frustrated that life seemed to have become complicated, he turned to God. Hunter had grown up in the church, but he never took his faith too seriously. Sure, he believed in God, and tried to live a decent life. He even volunteered a few times at the local homeless shelter, but his faith never seemed to make much difference in school or hanging out with friends.
This time, things were different. After all, the decision he made could change the course of his life. Alone in his room, he asked God for help and guidance. Opening his eyes, Hunter felt better, confident that God would give him a clear answer. He didn’t pretend that God would show him a sign just because it spent a few minutes in prayer, but he felt that an answer would come in time.
Hunter was mistaken. God didn’t give him the simple answer he wanted, so he continued to wrestle with his choices. Day after day he prayed.
“God knows that I am sincere when I ask Him for help,” Hunter thought. He must be testing me, so I will just continue praying. But by the end of the second week, Hunter started to feel the weight of disappointment. He wondered what he was doing wrong. Bible verses like John 14:14 came to mind “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” But still, only silence.
Finally the time had come to make a decision. Hunter couldn’t keep up with both the team and the band. Practices were starting to run over each other, and if he continued, he might be cut from both the team and the band.
The next day he walked into the coach’s office and announced that he was quitting the team.
Coach nodded his head and frowned. “Are you sure? You’ve put in a lot of hard work, and I see a lot of potential in you.”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Well, if you change your mind, we can use you on the team. Good luck,” said Coach.
Hunter left the office feeling that he had made the right decision. But what bothered him was the fact that he had never received an answer to his prayers. “Why hadn’t God told me which choice to make?” he thought to himself. After all, it was one of the most important, and difficult, decisions he had ever faced.
Weeks passed, and life went on. Hunter settled into a familiar routine of school, band, church, and fun with friends. However the unanswered prayer still nagged at him, until, one day, God gave him the answer. He didn’t hear a voice or see a vision, but a clear message popped into his head. While walking home from school, these words came to him, “Whatever. It doesn’t matter.”
It took some time to process in his mind, but the lesson became crystal clear. God didn’t care if he played sports or band. As long as he followed Jesus, loving God and loving his neighbor, the rest was not that important in His eyes.
Other Stories You Might Enjoy
***
In Matthew 6:33 Jesus tells us “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
It’s a simple message, but difficult to live out. Life throws a lot of distractions our way. They can easily grab our attention and take our focus off of His kingdom. Even when it comes to things that seem important to us.
What are you focusing on today, the things of this world, or the kingdom of God?