Halftime

When Was It Written
On August 26, Kevin Wood wrote about the need for intentional and purposeful rest in our lives. Just like football has a halftime period, we all need a time to just catch our breath from time to time. But the purpose of halftime is not to stay in the locker room. Games are never won there. We rest only to get ready to re-enter the game.

Who Wrote It
Kevin Wood, Pastor


HALFTIME
Most of us believe a football game has four quarters, but that simply isn’t true. Football has five quarters. There are four quarters that run for 15 minutes. We call these quarters the first, second, third, and fourth quarters. Then there’s that 15 minute period of rest that sits in the dead middle of those other four quarters. That 15-minute stretch of inactivity is when no passes are thrown, no tackles are made, and no touchdowns are scored. We call that awkward quarter of inactivity “halftime”.

Halftime has the perception of being a time of irrelevance to the game at hand. Both teams empty the sidelines and bolt to the locker rooms. The fans disengage from the action on the field to visit the restroom, refresh at the concession stand, make a phone call, or smoke a cigarette. The marching bands march their way around the field for a few minutes, entertaining the rest of the crowd that chose to remain seated. Halftime seems like a 15-minute break from all the “important” action. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Halftime is critical, because halftime is never about just pausing, it’s about preparing. Halftime is about reflecting on what just happened in the first 30 minutes, refocusing on what is going to happen in the next 30 minutes, and refueling to finish the game strong. Halftime is a period of “strategic rest”. It’s a “pause” with purpose. And without it, both teams would fall apart with an abundance of exhaustion and an absence of execution.

Halftime is a pause that allows a team to prioritize their plan of action. And while halftime is a good time to catch your breath so you can prepare for catching the ball, it’s really about catching a vision and a dream and a goal. Imagine with me for a second what would happen to the players on the field if football only had four quarters and no halftime. Inevitably, fatigue would replace focus, sloppiness would suffocate sharpness, and everything would fall apart. The whole reason behind “halftime” is because football players are not designed to give it their all without a chance to rest. Halftime is crucial for health, and health is crucial for victory.

What is true in football is true in church as well. Everyone who serves needs a halftime every now and then. The Bible calls this a “Sabbath”, but the principle is the same. There needs to be a period of strategic rest. But isn’t a time just to sit and do nothing. This kind of halftime is about reflecting on what just happened in the previous phase of spiritual growth, refocusing on where growth needs to happen next, and refueling to live strong. Without these pauses the people would suffer from an abundance of exhaustion and an absence of execution.

Some of you reading this article are thinking, “This is me.” And for some of you it is. Some of you need a halftime. You’ve been sapped and strapped of spiritual vitality from neglecting that halftime principle. And it isn’t just due to church activity. It’s the tag team trio of work and home and church. Just as football players aren’t designed to go four quarters with no break, neither are any of us. So check the game clock to see how close your halftime is. And when the whistle blows, head to the locker room. But don’t get too comfortable, because games are never won there. Take a break. Catch your breath. Then get ready to get back in the game.

-Kevin 08/24/07