Let Him Kick the Ball!

"The Lord now chose 72 other disciples and sent them on ahead in
pairs to all the towns and villages He planned to visit."
Luke 10:1

My son played soccer since he was five years old, and frankly he was pretty good. In the 9th grade, he decided to also try out for JV football. He was small at the time, not weighing more than 120 pounds, but he was pretty spunky and very fast. However, size was a problem. So he started working on his kicking game and became the kicker for the team. I enjoyed watching him kick extra points, and even practicing field goals. In one practice, he kicked a 32 yarder, which was pretty good for a 14-year-old. He practiced hard, got some coaching, and really worked on his technique. But, as you can imagine there is not a lot of call for field goals in JV football!

During the fifth game of the season, with the score tied, time was running out. His team had driven down to about the 25-yard line, and there was a really bad angle for the goal post. Fourth down came and I started yelling, "Send in the kicker!" My wife wanted to kill me. She actually got pretty mad, because she felt it was too much pressure on someone to have to go out there and kick like that. A few seconds later, out trots my son and he gets the chance to kick the field goal to win the game. Whether he made it or not is not important, the fact is, it was time to let him kick the ball.

Jesus teaches us this same lesson in the 10th chapter of Luke. He selected 72 people, and then in the next 16 verses He gives them specific instructions as to what He wants them to do. He teaches them, He coaches them, and He has them practice. But then He lets them go. The results are seen in verse 17 where God's word says that the 72 disciples returned to Him and "they joyfully reported."

I don't often fall victim to micro-management – the illness where we have trained and equipped our people, sent them to do the work, and then seek to manage the details. Jesus gave His disciples instructions and sought to manage only the results. We have the right to require tasks be done with integrity, purpose, and a focus on our mission, but we do give up the privilege of being able to manage all the steps. If my coaching and teaching have been effective, I do not need to worry myself with endless progress reports, editorializing on the details, or the need to correct each small step that went astray.

Jesus was a "big picture" thinker and so should we be.

My son had worked hard to be an effective kicker. He had listened to his coach, had practiced and had prepared for just his time. It was time for his mother and me to let him go and learn by experience.

For your information, the kick missed to the right. Zack came over to the sidelines, and while disappointed that he missed the kick, realized what he did wrong and was able to correct it the next time. When you let people go, sometimes they will achieve the objectives and sometimes they won't, but the success is your willingness to let them go, and their willingness to take your coaching and leadership and follow through. - Hope this helps.