Day 30 – Game On (Darnell Tayleor)

Living it Up

I can remember it like it was yesterday. I got my you have _ _ _ _ to live sentence, although it sounded more like 20 years in an Illinois State Prison System. It felt like it was the end of my life. There was the fear of the unknown, and if that didn’t cripple me enough with fear, I would be going to one of the most violent prisons in America. The idea of not knowing anyone or anything about where I was going was enough to still my joy. With only two weeks before being shipped out I was suddenly face with tons of fears, what do I do now? How am I going to be able to handle this? Will I be able to survive it? I heard all the horror stories and seen first hand what can happen if you don’t mind your own business. Scary, isn’t it?

Well, as a born again Christian, I did know that I was in good company. God had already told me that He would never leave me, nor forsake me. I had that covered. I was from a well-known Chicago Housing Project, so I didn’t fear been picked on, I had that covered. I have the gift of not having any problems with saying goodbye to people I am close to. I had that covered. It’s what I didn’t have covered that got me in rut, PASSION. I lost my passion for both God and for people. I was still going to church and still seen as a Christian amongst my peers, but I wasn’t an active servant and a witness. See, I purposefully chose to take a back seat in the Faith, much like choosing to retire. I was just tired of being the go to guy for prayer and answers, I just sat down in the middle of the race. My feet were tired and my soul truly took a rest.

That was until I came to Grace, it was like Ignition switch was turned on. See, I thought that I could hide amongst the crowd of people and go unnoticed. I thought, “these people will not care about one little ole me, they will not care who I am. I can stay in the shadow and live an average Christian life.” That didn’t happen, and I got welcomed into this church with open arms and big hugs from everyone. I knew I was in trouble here, but I thought I could hold my cover, so I stayed. With arms wide open and plenty of love I was ushered into a body of Christians that is very in the game, the fight, the battlefield.

See, I gave up my passion because I knew that if people knew who I was then I would be asked to do things all the time. So I hide my talents, my gifts, and hoped no one would find out who I was. Then I came to Grace and God challenged me Sunday after Sunday with “How To Get To Top”, “Every Person Matters To God”, “Moral & Relational Margins”, “How Good Is Good Enough”, “Getting Plugged In”, and many more topics, but it was Kendrick that sat with me one day in his office and challenged me. He said, “Darnell, I want to challenge you to get more involved”. That to me was God telling me that I shouldn’t think for one second that He called me to ride the bench, or sit this one out. He was clearly telling me to get my tale up and get in the game.

Christians are called to two duties: to be a servant and a witness. We are all called to be a servant in the local church, and a witness to our spheres of influence. Through One Month to Live I am reminded that we are in our last hours, the final seconds are ticking away. Game On! Yes we do get to live beyond one month, but the game has already started and we need to get in it. For me that means helping on the deacons team, getting involved in Gnet, offering my availability to AOK events, signing up for small groups, and taking it to the mission field. Game On! I challenge you to live your next month getting more involved. Kendrick and Grace Church are in the game and playing their “A” game, we role players need to fire up our passion and be that player that comes in and gives a boost to the team. There are no bench players and no retiring after 14 seasons in the League. Take a good look around you, Where is Bob Watson? Game On! Have you seen Clem Ferris? Game On! Can you sing? Look at Nathan Fancher, Game On! Or do you have a great smile and firm handshake, watch the Glover’s, Game on! Look around you, at church, at work, at home, on the news, dude! Game On!
……your number just got called, you’re in! Let’s show’em what you got!