Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on Luke 18:9-14 

Dear Friends in Christ, 

Imagine you’re watching high school basketball tryouts. The gym’s humming with energy and nerves. Two players stand out for totally different reasons. 

First, there’s Jake. He’s confident—maybe overconfident. He’s telling everyone how many points he scored last year, how hard he trains, how much better he is than the other guys. When he makes a shot, he celebrates; when someone else messes up, he rolls his eyes. He’s talented, no question. But it’s obvious who’s at the center of Jake’s universe: Jake. 

Then there’s Marcus. Marcus isn’t flashy. He fumbles sometimes, and sometimes he misses easy shots. But when he trips, he picks himself up and keeps hustling. When someone passes him the ball, you can hear him whisper thanks. When the coach gives feedback, Marcus listens—not defensively, but with genuine openness. He doesn’t act like he’s above anyone else, but you can tell he loves the game and the people around him. 

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