Friday at the YMCA, I was playing noon basketball… honestly, I wasn’t at my best. My shots weren’t falling, and with each miss, my confidence kept slipping away. I don’t think I made a single shot. After a few games of struggling, frustration started to creep in. As people began leaving for the afternoon, teams ended up switching, and I landed on a new team.

As I walked onto the court, one of the guys looked at me and said, “Let’s go. I know you can at least put up eight points this game—I’ve seen you shoot. I’ll get you the ball.” Immediately I laughed and said, “No, please, don’t pass me the ball—I’m not hitting anything.” But he just smiled and said, “That was before. This is a new game. I got you.”

And just like that, something shifted.

I played on his team for the next two games, and everything just clicked. I ended up scoring most of our points—I honestly don’t remember missing a single shot. It felt almost surreal. But the difference wasn’t really about making shots; it was the confidence he spoke into me—someone believing in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. There’s something truly powerful in that.

The atmosphere on that team was different, and it was just as powerful. Not because we were the most talented team, but because of the leadership and culture that one player helped create. A team built on encouragement and humble leadership naturally elevates everyone. Teammates supported one another, looked for ways to make others shine, and celebrated each other’s successes.

After the games, I made sure to tell him what a good teammate he was. It wasn’t really about basketball—it was bigger than that, it was about his heart. His willingness to build others up, to put himself second, and to lead by example stood out. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the same kind of leader off the court too.

This experience hit me hard from a Christian perspective. There’s something incredibly powerful about putting others first—encouraging your spouse, building up coworkers, or helping a teammate or friend believe in themselves—especially in a world that constantly tells us to measure our worth by our own success.

For most of my life, I lived with a “worldly perspective.” Everything felt like a competition, especially in sports. Everyone else was a rival, and I was determined to prove myself. It was a dog-eat-dog world, and for a long time, I thought I had to fight my way to the top. But the Lord has been teaching me a different—and far more fulfilling—way.

I’m learning that true fulfillment doesn’t come from success or achievements like the world teaches (though, let’s be honest—it still feels great to win, haha!). God has been teaching me to look beyond myself, and there’s incredible freedom in that. When I focus on serving, encouraging, and building others up, life feels lighter, more joyful, and deeply satisfying.

The Lord’s path turns us outward, calling us to humility, selflessness, and serving others instead of chasing our own glory. It may seem backwards, and it’s certainly not a natural way to live—but the Lord empowers us to follow this path. Living this way brings true fulfillment, lasting joy, and a sense of purpose that nothing in the world could ever provide.

1 Corinthians 10:31

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”