Spectator Sports

I recently bought a t-shirt from an online merchandiser. Their company had a tagline by its logo that has stayed with me:

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

In fact, none of the things that really matter to us in life are. None of them.

Peace is not a spectator sport.
Beauty is not a spectator sport.
Prayer is not a spectator sport.

Neither are eating, sleeping, loving, wondering, growing, learning.
Nor are healing, enjoying, asking, receiving, reading.

Spectator sports have value without doubt. Football, baseball, and my favorite, basketball, are fun to watch, but life itself demands that we participate. That we be participants and not spectators.

Is there somewhere in your life where you’re watching instead of playing? Go ahead, jump in.