"Role Playing"

“Role Playing”

Before the 2019 Super Bowl 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow observed, “The Patriots are great because each player knows his role in the system.” Their success over the past two decades bears up the truth of his statement. The same has been said of the Boston Celtics and Red Sox. What do these three storied teams have in common? Astute front office personnel who saw the roles that needed to be filled and did so through clever trades and draft choices. Their records speak for themselves.

The Patriots came into being in 1960. Between then and 2000 they made trips to two Super Bowls and lost both times. Enter Coach Bill Belichick. In 20 seasons under his leadership the Pats have won 16 divisional titles and made nine “Big Game” appearances, winning six championships. He has an incredible knack for finding the right player to plug a hole. Some say he’s arguably the best coach in NFL history.

The Celtics were a run-of-the-mill NBA team until Arnold “Red” Auerbach arrived on the scene in 1950 as Head Coach until 1966 then moved into the General Manager slot until 1984. During those 34 years the “Big Green” won 15 titles including 11 in 13 seasons (1956-1969). When a dominant center was needed he found Bill Russell; when a “sixth man” vacancy emerged he drafted John Havlicek. Both are included in the roster of the 50 greatest NBA players of all time.

The Red Sox hadn’t won a World Series title since 1918 (the year before Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees) when 28-year-old Theo Epstein was hired as General Manager in 2002. He built a group through player acquisitions and the club’s farm system in which all the pieces fit together and led to the Bosox’ first World Championship in 86 years in 2004 and another in 2007. Before leaving he set the table for two more titles in 2013 and 2018. In 2011 he moved on to lead in the Chicago Cubs’ rebuilding effort which in 2016 resulted in their first World Series win since 1908, a gap of 108 years. He has the ability to see hidden talent that others don’t—that’s the stuff that brings success.

Just as each team member had a role in the examples above we as part of God’s team (Christ’s church) each has a place in the task to “…make disciples of all nations….” (Matthew 28:19). Our spot is determined by what Rick Warren calls our S.H.A.P.E., that individual combination of Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experiences which makes each of us unique in the part we’re to play in fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission. Paul reminds us that “…we are God’s fellow workers….” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Are we ready to play our role in His program?

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan