Dream Team?

Last year in the NBA, the Miami Heat brought in two stud players and formed what they called the “dream team,” promising they would win the championship. They didn’t. In baseball, the Phillies and Red Sox each acquired all-star quality players prior to the season, and were almost unanimously picked to meet in the World Series. But the Phillies didn’t make the World Series. And the Red Sox didn’t even make the playoffs. In the NFL, the Eagles signed just about every star free agent available, leading Vince Young to declare them the NFL’s “dream team.” Make that nightmare, Vince. The Eagles missed the playoffs and struggled to finish at .500.

We’ve repeatedly learned in the sports world that it’s not about bringing together the best group of players. The best group of players almost never wins it all. What wins is a team that plays like a team – a team united for a mission that they put before themselves.

Here’s the thing:  In sports we know a “dream team” doesn’t cut it because we can look at their record of wins and losses. But what about in the church world? What about in the corporate world? We think the best team possible is one with the best collection of talented “players.” You know, the dream team. But it’s not. You just can’t tell because there’s no obvious record of wins and losses.

The best team for your church, business, school, or whatever is … a team that plays like a team – a team united for a mission that they put before themselves. And that’s what I dream about forming at Verve.