“They’re here already? We still have an hour and a half; they can’t be here yet!” My voice ended the sentence in a high squeak.

As I frantically sorted and stapled registration logs and sign-in sheets behind the customer care desk, the phone rang. I answered it with one hand so I could continue sorting the paperwork to be distributed to each coach.

“It’s a great day at Jam Hops. This is Sofia. How can I help you?”

This event was a big deal. It was our first-ever Freestyle Frenzy Ninja Competition (if you’ve ever seen American Ninja Warrior, this was it—but for kids), and I had been given complete control over the planning and hosting of this event. This was the very first competition our gym has ever held, and the competition format was unknown since we were testing a new rule set. We were also using the event to open our new ninja space which had just been completed the weekend before. A lot was riding on the success of this event. I knew the administration was watching our program closely, and I was feeling the pressure to perform well in organizing and hosting a successful event.

As I wrapped up the phone call, two of our coaches approached the desk and informed me that we had run out of chairs for spectator seating.

“Uh oh. Ok, give me a second and then I’ll be over to see what we can do.” I responded.

I finished sorting my papers and then turned to walk out from behind the customer care desk, tripping over a large box as I did so.

“Oh no, I still have to sort the athletes’ shirts and set up the admissions table too. We only have 45 minutes until show time, and the athletes will be here in 15 minutes. There is too much to do and too little time!” I felt the panic starting to creep into my voice as I realized it would be almost impossible to get everything done in time.

“Yes, it will be tight. What is still left to do?” My co-worker asked.

“Besides the T-shirts and admissions table, we have to make sure the judging tables are set and all the necessary rule books and scoring sheets are distributed between them. I have to run ribbons and post directional signs around the gym for the spectator boundaries, and the award table still has to be set up. I really wanted to do decorations and set up the photo booth to make it extra special, but that may not happen since we are short on time. Oh, and have the timers been set up at each course yet?”

“I don’t think so. Where is the music and sound table?” She replied.

“Ah! I had completely forgotten about that. I still have to hook up the mic and the stereo system!”

I wondered why she seemed so calm. Usually, it was her that was stressed, but today it seemed that the roles had reversed. She looked me straight in the eyes.

“We can do it, Sofia. You can do it. You’ve put so much work and dedication into this event, I know it will be amazing however it goes. And remember, we are ninjas. We turn chaos into creativity and go with the flow. I think the coaches are all wrapping up with the chairs, just put them to work and give them some of those assignments. We are a big team and here to help each other.”

I realized she was right. If we were to get everything done in time, I would need all the helping hands I could get. I had been fearful that it would not turn out as I had envisioned, but now I realized that having everything at least completed with the help of others would be much better than not done at all.

I thanked her. “That means a lot. I will ask the coaches to help with everything that’s left.”

We gathered the coaches together and I delegated the tasks needing to be completed. Everyone took their assignments and ran off to complete them, and I stayed behind to make last minute preparations and check over details. Five minutes before the event’s start time I walked around the gym and was shocked to find everything completed and better than what I had imagined! I noted that even some details I had originally overlooked had been taken care of. I could not believe everything was done and we were ready to start on time!

That day, I realized that being a part of and leading a team means trusting in each member to fulfill their role. Yes, I felt the obligation to take care of every detail by myself because the planning was supposed to be my job in the first place, but my selfish vanity took over as I wanted to be recognized for doing it all myself. You may have heard the phrase, “If you want it done right, do it yourself.” Never have I disagreed with that statement more than after that day.

1 Corinthians 12:14 reminds us that, “[f]or the body is not one member, but many” and points to how every member must work in harmony. Vanity is what disrupts harmony and creates division. If I tried to do it all myself, it would have resulted in an unfinished event, and lots of hurt feelings. God wants us to learn how to work together, not each going his own way. My co-worker helped me see that if this event was going to be a success, I would have to swallow my pride and ask for help. Once I did so, everything got done just in time and better than what I would have done myself.

The competition culminated in a huge success, and I knew I could not have done it on my own. The next time you need something done right, have the humility to include others and to ask one simple request: “Help, please!”