QUESTION OF THE DAY #6: What does it take to make teamwork work?

Gossip, blame, jealousy, and pettiness are all the enemies of teamwork.  For teamwork to work there must be a clearly established goal.  There must be communication and many other interpersonal skills.  There must be a high level of dedication.  However, the basic, unavoidable truth is that for teamwork to work, you need other people!   Therefore it's a very good idea to respect and value others.  Well, that's an understatement, I know. 

I recently was privileged to watch my son play a football game.  It reminded me of my own high school gym teacher showing us a film about football that talked about execution.  This means doing what you have to do.   When you do your job, you've simply done your job, and you can take satisfaction in that.  However, in the end it really is all about the team!   Win or lose, you can't do it all on your own.

One great thing about teammates is that they watch out for each other.  There is a special bond that comes from working together. This bond is there because teams are so important.  Without teams, we would only be isolated individuals, and could never accomplish alone what we can do together.

In Luke 17, the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith.  Jesus answers and says.  "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." Jesus was speaking to them as a team!  "You," in the original language of the New Testament, is plural!  You can only believe for yourself, but faith also puts us in a powerful position of teamwork.  Together, we can move the trees and even mountains of this life!