Subscription Lists

One of the lessons that my sister and I learned over and over again growing up was that you have to keep your word- even when it hurts. Usually it didn't hurt too badly because, as I've said before, God is always true to His word. For example, if I didn't cancel babysitting for the Felton kids because I got a better offer (like a date), it always seemed like the Feltons would cancel, so I got to go on the date anyway. Similar scenarios happened so many times that I can't begin to recall them all.

But I remember one time that I didn't keep my word. The local County Extension Office (a university office that helps farmers with research) had sent me to a week of Conservation Camp. (I had never heard of it either until I went.) It was a week to learn about solar energy, water conservation, and how to prevent streams from being ruined by too much soil run-off. How interesting, you say. Did I mention that I had been elected Madam Mayor for this titillating week?

Well, to make a short story long, the Rotary Club had asked me to come on a Monday night to speak about my experience—something no one would want to miss. So I accepted the invitation. It's not often that a 17-year-old is invited to speak to the largest men's organization in town.

But another drama was going on in the athletic realm of my life. It was my senior year at Lee Academy, and I was the only Sr. on the basketball team—an important position in a society where everything boils down to respect for the pecking order. I had been a starter or sixth-man on the team since 8th grade. But our new coach was evidently not from our neck of the woods because he never quite understood the weight that my position should have carried. He was more concerned about the tall-potential-superstar sophomores than the solid senior.

This is where the pain comes in. Rotary was always Monday night. My mother catered Rotary, so I was there anyway—every Monday night. Basketball was ALWAYS Tuesday and Friday nights. Always. For the six years I played, it was always, always, always on Tuesday and Friday. You've guessed the crisis. For some reason that I cannot remember, our basketball game was moved to Monday night, the same Monday night that I was scheduled to speak at the Rotary Club.

Looking back, the decision seems so easy. But at the time, it was the hardest choice I had ever made. Go speak to a group of less-than-exciting men, or be the integral part of the Sr. High girls' basketball team. How could the team live without me? And the Rotary Club would understand. You can't let the team down.

So I chose the Lee Academy Cougars, even though I had made a previous commitment to the Rotary Club. I didn't keep my word.

The game started, and I started. But ten minutes into the game, the coach pulled me out to sit on the bench. And I sat, and sat, and sat. For all practical purposes, I sat out the entire game. It was so humiliating!

I could have honored my word and been center stage at Rotary, but I was unwillingly to give up the honor of my position on the team. And God had used the opportunity to teach me something: that I had given up an even greater honor—the honor of being one worthy to "dwell on God's holy hill" as one who "keeps his oath, even when it hurts" (Psalms 15:4). I learned that breaking my vow hurt way worse that keeping it ever could.

(This really isn't a re-run. You just think it is:)

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

Talents and gifts