Your #1 Fan

The radio show has a contest, a pair of free concert tickets to be given to the #1 fan of a singer. Immediately, everyone that thinks they are the #1 fan starts calling in to the show trying to be the winner of those tickets. Caller after caller, they tell their story to the radio jockey, of the shrine they have in their closet of the singer or how they know every dance move. Some are even able to tell what type of cereal the singer likes to eat and where they get their favorite sandwich. Old and young, male and female call in proclaiming their allegiance to this person who doesn’t even know they exist, begging for the tickets to be given to them, only to be turned down. Then there is one caller, who has a cool voice and doesn’t seem to be flustered by the question that is posed, “Why do you think you’re the #1 fan?” “Easy,” they said, as they started to give their answer. “I’m the #1 fan, because I’ve been there since day one. When he’s awake, I’m awake. When he sleeps, I catch a nap as well. I was there when the first note was hit and idea crazy idea popped into his head that he could maybe do this for a living. There were others along the way, but no one has been as dedicated as I am. We eat, sleep and live this game together. I am the #1 fan because I am him.”

My message to you this morning is – “Your #1 Fan?”

It sometimes seems easier to cheer on someone else then it is to cheer on ourselves, because the commitment level doesn’t have to be there. When dealing with other people we can always jump in and out of the race, depending on how much of ourselves we want to give at the time. But when we try to do the same thing with ourselves, we know the result will only be detrimental.

No one will ever push as hard as you are capable of pushing yourself. The reason for that is simple – they aren’t as hungry as you are, they shouldn’t be as hungry as you are. If your posse is pushing harder for your dream than you are, maybe that dream really belongs them. Ask any successful person how they made it to the top. Yes, they may have had a supportive partner, family and friends, but I guarantee they’ll also mention their commitment. The long nights they spent staring at the computer, working in the studio, drawing in the office or playing in the garage. Days of skipped showers, eating stale leftovers, time away from loved ones and missed events in order to make that dream a reality. Your fan base starts inside.

Take a look in your cheering section. I hope that seat in Section 1 Row 1 Seat 1 belongs you.