It did not look good.  Joel Berry, star point guard for the Carolina Tar Heels goes down with a rolled ankle and is heading back to the locker room.  “This can’t be good,” the announcer states as all of Carolina nation holds their collective breath.  Seventh Woods, back-up point guard, enters.  He quickly picks up his second foul.  There are limited choices.  Coach Williams looks down his bench and sees the old veteran, Stillman White.  He gives him a nod.  White calmly comes in the game and goes about his business.  “The offense looks out of sync with this lineup,” the same announcer digresses.  The offense does look stale.  Suddenly, White takes the ball on the wing and drives.  He goes up and under the basket for a beautiful reverse lay-up.  Its worth 2 points.  Carolina holds on to win by, you guessed it, TWO points.

There were 148 points scored in the Carolina/Kentucky Elite Eight game but none were bigger than those.  Sure, one could argue that Luke Mays 18-footer actually won the game, but it is all for nothing if White doesn’t step up.  There is something to be said of making the most of your minutes.  Stillman White sure did.  In fact, Berry came back into the game a few minutes later and White took his customary spot on the bench and took on his customary role of cheerleader.  He did not play another minute.  So, sure, one could argue that he had a minimal impact.  I however, believe he did exactly what he was called to do, and maybe what we all are called to do, make the most of your minutes.

I have been quite convicted lately to grab hold of every small moment and set of minutes and really make them count.  I have shared this at work, with my son and family, and with my brother.  God continues to remind me that we don’t get to be here long.  We must embrace every moment and every good day.  Matthew Henry, in his biblical commentary, said it best, “It is wisdom to fill up our vacant minutes with that which is good so that no small moment of time will be lost.”  May that be our challenge always.  When we have an opportunity to do good, in whatever capacity and in whatever moment, let’s do it.  We never know where it might lead.