4 Differences Between a Fan and a Player

Behold, the fan.

Every game is life altering bliss or misery.  Conversations the fan will have about their team are passionate and emotionally charged.  Each new season brings new hope.  For all but one team’s fans, however, that hope comes crashing down around them each year.

Here are some differences that I see between the fan, and the player on the field:

1) A player will never boo their team. Ever notice how at the beginning of the game, the crowd (full of fans) is full of excitement and joy?  It’s a forgone conclusion that their team is going to win this week, and their cheers are deafening  However, if their team fails to perform, that excitement quickly changes to frustration and anger, and the cheers turn to boos.  You never see a player on the field doing this.  They may get frustrated, maybe even angry at the outcome the game is taking, but they never boo their teammates.

2) A player will never leave before the game is over. Frustrated and angry fans will make an early exit if a loss is a forgone conclusion.  You never see players do this. They stick it out to the end.  A loss is just one loss.  A bad season is just a bad season.  The team players (and I have to say that because there are some out there that collect a check from their team, but aren’t team players) pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and keep going.  Fans?  They leave early to beat the traffic.

3)  A player will show up for every game…even injured. Stadiums are typically filled at the beginning of the seasons when hopes are high for success. However, if that success does not come, those same stadiums will sit half empty week in and week out.  Fans want to be a part of successes and be associated with winners.  They won’t invest time or money in their team if it is not performing to their standards of success.  Players, however, are there every single week.  Yes they get paid, but, believe it or not, they are there to play.  That’s what they want to do, that’s what they love to do, and they will continue to do it until their bodies tell them to quit. Some players will even play beyond that point, because they love the game and can’t see themselves doing anything else.

4) A fan is not a player on the field. While they may have all the official gear, have a reasonable understanding of the game, and know facts about every player in the league, a fan is not a player.  While they may not do any of the negative things listed above, they are still in the stands and not on the field.  A fan has nothing at stake.  There is no risk being taken each play.  Their ability is not being judged.   Rather, they are the ones passing judgement on what happens on the field.  A fan seems to know exactly what needs to be done in order to win every game, but the fact is that they are not on the field and, therefore, don’t really know what’s going on.

So, when it comes to your church, are you a fan or a team player?  Are you in the stands, or on the field?

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