Last week we went to Mt. Hermon to hear the last of a series of inaugural organ concerts. At a time when many churches are discarding their organs, Arlene and I thought it would be encouraging to be present when this new instrument was played by an internationally acclaimed organist. Hector Olivera was introduced to what could only be called an aging audience and he proceeded to produce music that excited and entertained and encouraged all who were present. The new organ ranks behind only the ones at the Crystal Cathedral and Grace Cathedral in terms of size and capacity on the west coast. Mr. Olivera did unbelievable things on the organ and amazed us with his skill on the instrument. I found myself watching the swift movement of his hands across the four keyboards. At other times his feet moved so quickly on the pedals that I could barely see them for the blur they created. What talent God gifted him with. And the thought of the practice time it took to perfect that talent was overwhelming. However, it was the man himself as he played that I finally realized had so captured my attention. He wasn’t just playing a concert for a crowd of old folks. He was playing because he loved God and loved what he did. At times he would not be playing the keys with both hands and with the free hand he would wave it as if conducting himself through the notes. His body would sway over the keys as if he became part of the organ. And when he played a grand and stirring anthem I realized I had the same feelings I often get during football games I coach.

I lose myself in the thrill of watching my team perform well on the field. And playing well means each guy on the team seems to be playing because he can’t help himself---he loves the game so much he just can’t do anything else. I confess that these feelings don’t come often as I have coached in recent years. Read what my dictionary (copyright 1973) gives as the first definition of “play”:

1. Something done to amuse oneself; fun; sport; recreation: to watch children at play. Play consists of those activities which are not consciously performed for the sake of any reward beyond themselves.

(There has been a pause of about 15 minutes as I’ve sat and just looked at the screen) I can almost hear some asking, “So what, coach? What are you trying to say?” I’m not sure. It is like I’m yearning for something that really has never existed except in this old mind of the dreamer that I am. Did kids ever run or jump or throw or catch or tackle or block or kick or hit a ball or shoot just to amuse themselves or just to have fun? Did they, or do they, ever compete just for the love of testing themselves against others as skilled, or more skilled, than they are and loving their opponent because they couldn’t play the game without them?

As I sat and listened to Hector Olivera play the organ I was convinced that he wasn’t doing it to show he was better than another organist or to win a prize or to make lots of money or even to get a scholarship to some university. I believed he played because he loved to and wanted to share the beautiful music he produced with any who cared to come and listen. I’m also convinced he would sit and play just as skillfully if he and God were the only ones there to listen. He loves to “play” the organ to praise God and to bring glory to Him. And so I think of this. When God first gave mankind life, He put us in a Garden where the man and the woman would PLAY: doing the activities God gave them to do but are not consciously performed for the sake of any reward beyond themselves. I think that “desire for rewards” as part of our “play” came after the Fall. We have come to see taunting and show-boating and rankings and TV ratings as expected parts of the games we play. The scholarship seems to be the goal.

Those things the Apostle Paul tells the Christians at Colosse in chapter 3 and verse 7 to get rid of seem to have become the banner for those who are now playing at the highest levels: “rid yourselves of all such things as these---anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” I don’t want to just “curse the darkness”, but it seems very difficult for me to know how to “light a candle”. I pray that I will be encouraged this Saturday as I attend an AIA sponsored breakfast where some pro football players and coaches will share their desire to honor and praise God in their play during the Super Bowl. It is my desire that their words lift my spirit like Hector Olivera’s playing on the organ did. It’s my prayer that my coaching---my play---will encourage all I work with.

Coach Hitch