“Referees don’t fall in love,” that’s a song that sparked the idea for today’s conversation. This song title got our brains stirring, trying to make sense of what seemed like a seemingly nonsensical sentiment. The title refers to the idea...

“Referees don’t fall in love,” that’s a song that sparked the idea for today’s conversation. This song title got our brains stirring, trying to make sense of what seemed like a seemingly nonsensical sentiment. The title refers to the idea that referees are just that within the game…referees. The ref doesn’t win the game or lose the game, but rather sits by and judges and makes sure that the rules are being abided by. A necessary part of any game, but certainly not what most children dream of becoming. To step onto the court of life it means that you are taking a risk. Taking a risk that you may lose, injure yourself, or embarrass yourself…swing and miss in front of all the onlookers. The upside of getting in the game rather than sitting and judging it is that you also have the opportunity to win.    Getting in the game isn’t a new concept, even for this podcast, but it is one that should be frequently revisited. There is safety in never putting yourself out there. Sure you may not win, but you also will never get hurt. Whether the game for you is relationships, a new and adventurous career move or just trying out a new hobby that you have always wanted to do, there is always a reason worthy of checking out of your own head and into the game.    A life is seldom lived if it is always observed and never acted upon. Within our own lives we can be the referee, upholding the rules, and keeping the peace, or we can get in the game and try and score a few baskets of our own. There will be adversity, you’ll lose some games here and there and it will be awfully hard to suit back up, but the rewards for just playing will be an endless exhibit of what is possible. We all know the importance of putting ourselves out there, and the countless lessons to be learned win or lose, just don’t forget that playing is a lifelong pursuit.

Keeping Score