What Soccer Teaches Me About God

I know little about playing soccer but I have volunteered a few times to coach my kid's teams when no one else was able to assume the role. I approached coaching with the idea that I can help the team have fun. Practices were for learning skills and doing drills. Games were for implementing the skills learned in practice - and having fun doing it. During the games I would only tell players what to do if they were in la-la land, or if they were severely out of position. Mostly I would just shout encouragement and praise. Practice was hands-on demonstrations and drills. Games were to put into play the skills acquired during practice. 

I was always amazed how coaching, practice, and natural ability were more evidenced in some players than others. One of the kids was an excellent defender. He was nowhere near the fastest runner on the team, and he couldn't kick the ball very well, but he had developed the ability to know where the ball was going to go. Whenever the other team would break away with the ball, I was confident this defender would be there to disrupt the play. Other players needed much more coaching to know where to stand and what to do. 

Pondering on those games has taught me some things about God. I am a player on Gods team. When I'm at church, reading scriptures, praying, or worshiping at the temple - these are the practice times. These are the times the coach most freely shares his will. 

The rest of life is the game. The coach is on the sideline.  I am not a robot that is controlled by the coach, or told everything to do. Most of the time I play the game the best I have been taught. Occasionally the coach calls my name to get my head back in the game when the ball is coming my direction. 

Perhaps as we become more "one" with God, as our desires increasingly match His desires, perhaps we require less coaching during the games.  God doesn't have to tell us everything to do. Like the coach who no longer needs to teach how to throw the ball in, or what constitutes off-sides, or to anticipate where the ball will be, so we become better at doing good without being prompted.

There are many stories where someone reports feeling the spirit as, "I didn't know why, but I felt we needed to _____." I have had some of those experiences myself. I think in those times I was the soccer player who was momentarily distracted by butterflies and didn't see the ball coming. God, like the coach, had to call out to get my attention. If I had been paying attention, perhaps I wouldn't have required the strong prompting. 

As a last thought to include I would say that every player needs practice - even those that are great players. We learn and practice, and practice, until the perfect day. 

I am impressed with a friend of mine who is currently serving as a bishop. One night he asked his wife to go on a walk through the neighborhood, even though it was extremely late. He didn't feel or think he was doing anything out of the ordinary. He just had a desire to walk and talk with his wife. They made it only a few houses away when a car careened off an otherwise empty street and hit a tree in front of them. The driver turned out to be another neighbor who had suffered a stroke. My friend and his wife were able to give first aid and call for an ambulance. They were in the right place when they were needed. My friend didn't report asking his wife to go for a walk because of some ominous feeling. He just wanted to spend some quite time walking and talking with his wife. Those kinds of stories happen frequently with this friend. 

The Hymn "More Holiness Give Me" is about the soccer player's desire to learn from the supreme coach. I especially like the third verse - 

More purity give me,
More strength to o'ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains,
More longing for home.
More fit for the kingdom,
More used would I be,
More blessed and holy--
More, Savior, like thee.

https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/more-holiness-give-me?lang=eng

This scripture is also applicable - 

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. 

27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; 

28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. 

29 But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.  

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/58.26-29?lang=eng#25

What does soccer teach me about God? It teaches me that I'm a better player when the coach doesn't have to tell me everything to do. It teaches me that when the promptings are the loudest, I'm probably not focusing on the right things. It teaches me that God is more interactive with me while I am practicing, not when my skills are being tested. And, it teaches me that I have a lot to learn. I'm grateful to be on the team, and grateful to be used in whatever position the coach needs me to play.