On March 10th, the Savannah Bananas played their first game in a major-league stadium… And they sold it out. More than 41,000 fans watched the Bananas play at Minute Maid Park in Houston. In preparation, the owner of the Bananas took his entire team to the upper deck to talk through the day. Looking down across the empty stadium, he reminded them of where they had started and how they would operate on this day with their largest crowd to date. The approach with 41,000 fans would be the same that it had been from the very beginning: “One fan at a time.”
A meaningful reflection of Jesus happens as we value one person at a time.
Banana ball is popular because it’s entire focus is on the fans. They seek to make “never forget” moments for fans at every game. And they know that the only way to impact a large crowd is to impact one person at a time. As an organization, they are outward focused and it is working.
Here are two components to the Bananas approach that we can utilize as followers of Jesus.
1. Urgent in their approach
They understand they only have today’s game as an opportunity to make an impact. They approach each game as if it’s the only one, because for the fan, it might be the only one.
Application: Let’s give our attention to others today as if it’s our only chance to make an impact. Assuming we’ll have other chances may diminish what we are willing to do today.
2. Grateful for the opportunity
The Savanah Bananas understand how amazing their story is turning out to be and they are not taking it for granted. They give all they have on game-day out of gratitude to a fan base that has flocked to them. Their gratefulness feeds their willingness to serve fans while at the game.
Application: We need to view our role in God’s mission to save the world not as a job, but as a privilege. How incredible that God has chosen to utilize us in His plan to redeem those who are separated from Him!
Sometimes, we don’t do for the one because we can’t do for the many. In the midst of large crowds, Jesus had a laser-focus on the “one.” May our daily approach to the world involve a whole-hearted approach to doing for the one what we wish we could do for the many.
Keep Reflecting Jesus!
Photo by Mockup Graphics on Unsplash