Over the last few years, my seventeen-year-old son Jed has become invested in international football, aka soccer. When I say invested, I mean Jed learns all the things about the players and teams. He’s known everything about the NBA since he was about five years old, so this is not a new process for him. His favorite team is the Tottenham Spurs from England. He’s drawn our family into the team’s activity too. The other day, we were watching a match downstairs while Jed was watching upstairs. There was a slight delay so when the team scored a goal, we would hear Jed’s excited reaction a couple of seconds later. I enjoyed those few seconds of anticipation waiting to hear him yell, “GOAL.” At the end of the game, the announcer said that the Spurs had played with “verve and vivacity.” I thought that description was magnificent and asked Jed about it. He told me the announcer was Peter Drury, and with reverence said, “he’s a poet.” 

Verve is defined as great energy and enthusiasm, and vivacity is defined as the quality of being vivacious, which means attractively energetic and enthusiastic. (dictionary.cambridge.org). I knew that soccer fans around the world were rabid for their teams and that they cheered and chanted for the course of entire games. But I’d recently witnessed a bit of the verve and vivacity of the international football community up close. We were at Disney World where people from all over the world come for entertainment. Jed wore soccer jerseys on several days. I witnessed Jed and fellow fans nod in acknowledgement as they passed by one another. They would say, “I like your jersey” on other occasions. While we waited for the Tower of Terror ride, Jed had an in-depth conversation with a Londoner about the teams in the league. I hadn’t expected to see the camaraderie between fans when they were not at games but based merely on the jerseys they wore. They were connected even though they didn’t know each another. I especially hadn’t anticipated the sheer number of soccer fans that Jed would encounter.

Energy and enthusiasm. What if we tried to create communities based on those tenants? Or inject those qualities into organizations to which we already belong? Sometimes members of our groups become overburdened or overwhelmed. The issues seem too large or complicated and frustration sets in. Some may feel burned out and ready to give up. That’s when others must step up and bring energy and enthusiasm to support those who are struggling. To give the encouraging nod. To say, “I see you and believe in you.” To remind them we are connected and when one of us is down, the other will step up to fill in the gaps. To cheer up the team when they feel like there is no chance of winning. 

When one of those in our community is having a hard time, we can step into help them. Embracing energy and enthusiasm can strengthen our connections, so that we can build up the members of our communities when they are in need. And know that they will do the same for us when we need a boost of verve and vivacity.