I've got your back!

If anyone of you were wondering why I haven't posted in what seems like forever, it's because I had mid-terms week followed by Spring Break. I had no time during the former, and no motivation during latter. Sorry. I know you were all checking my blog EVERY day during my 2 week hiatus, anxiously awaiting my next brilliant piece of literary genius...that was a little redundant, wasn't it? Oh well.

Anyway, I'm back, so smile! Speaking of "backs," I got this really cool t-shirt from my former high school. They made them for the state basketball tournament, and the backside says, "We got your back!" followed by the verse Hebrews 3:13, which says, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." First of all, it's a cool idea for a fan section t-shirt for obvious reasons. For the dimwitted among you, I'll explain it anyway. Fans encourage people. The verse on the shirt is about encouragement. The line "We got your back" is not only ironic for being on the back of the shirt, but it plays off of the idea of being a fan and supporting your team while simultaneously referring to the Bible verse. Mind. Blown.

Second, it reminds me of a story. It's not a great story for anyone other than me, but whatever. So as part of the culture of our team, we let people know how they're doing during practice through verbal reinforcement. If someone does something good, like go all out for a ball, we let them know that we thought it was good and tell them right then and there with "Yes ____! That a way ____! Good effort ____!" etc. We build each other up. And let me tell you something, there's no better feeling than going all out for a ball and then having your teammates encourage you afterwards. Making a great save is cool, but hearing someone shout "Great save!" afterwards is even better. It makes you want to do it again. And again. And again. So the next time a similar situation comes up, you do the same thing, because you remember the encouragement.

But not only should we be building each other up in athletics, as brothers and sisters in Christ, God tells us we should be building each other up spiritually, as well. The verse on my shirt reminds us that when we encourage each other in Christ, we do more than just make them feel good. We literally help them from falling back into the sinful culture of the world. Just like in soccer, when others encourage you to do something, it becomes easier to do it, because you know they have your back. When we encourage each other to live according to God's culture, it keeps us from being hardened by sin. So who's back are you gonna have today?

My name is Amy Swearer, and POTS stole my life. I'm taking it back.