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Writer's pictureBryce Johnson

Refs Swallowing Their Whistles

Throughout the NBA playoffs, refs have been making countless questionable calls - especially during the last two minutes of games. There have been missed calls regarding fouls…traveling…and crazy out of bounds plays. Interestingly, the NBA league office has actually confirmed the many missed calls at the end of games, which affirms our belief that refs “swallow their whistles” in crunch time. Instead of getting involved by making the right calls, refs seem to choose the “no-call” and let players keep playing. Being a professional ref must be difficult at the end of a game, but nobody wants to see their team lose after a blatant missed call. The concept of “swallowing the whistle” or choosing the “no-call” can also creep into our own lives. When we look around our city, our nation, and our world, there are plenty of opportunities to “blow the whistle.” Instead, we often choose to “swallow our whistle” by not getting involved or not trying to make a difference. We all witness injustices taking place every day – from the homeless to impoverished children, to abused women, to countries at war, to the moral decay of society. Unfortunately, we are all guilty at times of making excuses for why we can’t reach out or help find solutions to these ongoing problems. Instead, we seem to sit here silently. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 1:17 (ESV): “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” Although this is a strong charge that is challenging to address, we must ask ourselves if we will continue turning our heads and swallowing our whistles…or if we will choose to open our hearts by asking God to move us in ways that create change. Today, let’s take a step forward by allowing compassion to be the motivating force behind our response to injustice. Let’s seek to do what is right, so we don’t look back on our lives and admit to choosing the “no-call.” I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I admit I don't always seek justice and compassion. I’m guilty of being selfish and getting caught up in my own little world. I don’t always like to interfere, so I just turn my head instead. Please break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me eyes to see what You see and a passion to fix what is wrong in the world. Thank you for saving me and loving me the way You do. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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