Monthly Archives: December 2025

His focus.

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The various fonts of my ongoing amateur authorship affinity has carried with them a number of different monikers. Most of which were football or coaching affiliated and oriented.

One, once began some time ago, “…a temporary assignment” was somewhat a center of my attention, evocative of that moment in my life. A period of an altogether different level of processing and being. Unaware, or perhaps more honestly unprepared for the feces that would soon hit the fan. Directed for the most part by my inept, irrational and mostly intentional thoughts, words and actions.

So much for leading by example. But I digress….

As of late, things have been brought into focus. Not back into, for that would imply the way things were then needed to be better seen so as to promote my immediate return to them. I would hazard to say that focus has never been one of my strong suits. Well, perhaps it appeared as such, albeit superficially.

Perhaps.

Maybe that remains to be seen.

Of late, things are different. Largely because the direction of my gaze has changed. No longer am I trying to re-see where I was currently looking. Mostly behind. I think I better understand its relevance to this moment, but it no longer rules the day. Same can be said for what may or may not lay ahead. Though we may think other wise, there isn’t much say in that department.

Which this morning led me to better grasp “….my temporary assignment.” No where close to the first or second iteration. Hopefully what is said about the third time has merit and veracity.

Today is what I have. And what I choose to do with it is an assignment of the utmost importance. Tasks that have been granted by a grace freely given. Delivered by the thoughts now received, the words readily heard and the actions witnessed.

Nothing to do with bringing things back into focus. Just being able to finally really see.

His focus.

But I digress…

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A very compelling question to begin the day.

There are a number of those that have cast an impression upon me, in their way, ultimately soliciting a positive outcome in my life. Some are instantaneous in nature, sort of a spontaneous combustion event. While there are those that were merely planted, left and took months, years or decades to germinate and come to fruition.

Moments, interactions and relationships can assume an identity all their own, playing out a role that may not be readily apparent. There are those that bring with them an open and genuine level of honesty and positivity. Meant for one’s immediate care and benefit. Delivered with complete integrity, humility and a love born of servanthood to all those in need.

The impact of those interactions are immediately apparent. And I can name many that were there in that fashion, precisely when I desperately needed it.

One in particular was so in tune with my wellbeing, that he somehow called me, out of the blue, precisely during one of my worst moments, simply because he wanted me to know that he was there for me. No matter what. To this day, I remain touched by this level of loving care. The fact that I just shared this event with all of you brings tears to my eyes, despite the fact it happened well over a decade ago.

Then, there are those lessons one encounters that begin more with a somewhat arbitrary sense of conviction and desire, because its “how I did it and it works, so you should do it too.” Born more of convention or convenience. Just because. And depending on the current circumstances in one’s life, one might be more apt to surrender a bit oneself to become like them. Join the clique. Be a member of the “team”.

At first, things may reap the rewards yearned for, creating a false sense of “I made it.” But as the cost to your true being is accounted for, things slip away and you can descend into realms that taint, harm and destroy. There might be ways to assuage this sense of loss and losing recognition of who it is you were to start. But ultimately, it becomes a lesson of redemption and rebirth. An interaction that cast a cloud of negativity over you and your life. But ultimately, in the final analysis, led you to where you were meant to be.

Just as I am indebted to those who have touched my soul in ways I never imagined, I too am grateful that others have led me to tough lessons in self realization and affirmation. Perhaps they were never intended to be how I accepted them. But despite the negative origins, they too became a positive and lasting influence on me. And to those men, I am also grateful for being a part of my journey.

I tend to digress once pen is in hand. But with regard to the basis of the prompt, “describe a man who has positively impacted your life”, without a doubt, he would be Him. God.

It was He that suggested that many fellow coach should call precisely when I needed to hear his voice and feel his love. And it was He that allowed me to exercise my free will, albeit poor in execution, while remaining right next to me as I rebuilt and found my true way forward in life. He brought all those other men in and out of my life, when they were needed, then not, so that I could finally find this man.

The one sharing this prompt on one of the best days ever.

According to His plan.

But I digress…

Not even close.

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Daily writing prompt
Is your life today what you pictured a year ago?
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Not even close.

I don’t tend to look ahead and envision what the future will be compared to the now. I am one that tries to stay where I am and find paths leading to growth, improvement and reconciliation, so as to make myself ready as I go. That being said, the “to do” or “bucket list” doesn’t truly exist. I merely remain open to he flow.

As such, the flow a year ago was in actuality somewhat of a rip current. I thought I knew where I was in relation to the shore, but in reality, I was being pulled farther from a great many things I held dear. Being caught in a real one years ago, it is truly an unsettling experience, where attempts at controlling the situation may only add to your demise.

My understanding now is that you need to calmly work your way parallel to the shore. Not directly in, but a long the beach until you break free of it, then angle in to dry land. Attempting to overcome the strength of its pull directly will sap your strength, produce panic and eventually claim you.

But not if you can surrender and go with the flow.

I ended up father down from where I began, a blessing. So I chose to find another avenue out instead of going back to where it all started. That way only led me to capture, isolation and an eventual end. So while I did not picture where I ended up, letting go and allowing some of that current to pull me away from where I began made today possible.

Could I have ever imagined where I would be?

Not even close.

But it is, the best way out.

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Daily writing prompt
What skills or lessons have you learned recently?
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The skills, if you want to call them that, are off shoots of some of the lessons I have had to learn of late. Nothing resume worthy if that falls into the parameters of this prompt. But life worthy.

There is so much to be gained in letting go and letting things happen. Assuming otherwise doesn’t lend itself to good judgement, a proper sense of self, and a healthy rhythm of being. Control and ego tend to take one to the other end of the spectrum. You may think you have it going, but things say otherwise.

An all encompassing serenity and state of peace is found in the act of letting it be. Though the next sixty minutes may seem a little renegade and challenging, oddly enough, things commence to return equilibrium at minute sixtry-three or four. Bigger “obstacles”? Maybe not resolved in minute sixty-seven or eight, but already in process of working themselves out.

Looking at life lessons in this manner, hones the skills of patience, perservance and faith.

Like Mr. Frost once said, “the best way out is always through.” He didn’t stipulate a required pace or time limit. Just a departure and intended arrival. Finding out what is on the other side. Suggests embracing a bit of the unknown, employing unyielding trust and true discovery if you ask me.

Might be out of our hands.

But it is, the best way out.

A gift that keeps on giving.

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This can be a challenging season for many. Though it is intended to be a celebration of anticipation, affirmation and arrival, ones focus might happen to remain fixed on regrets, sorrow and loneliness.

A desperately needed gift for some may be well within one’s reach. Something that cannot be left at the front door or scanned into some account. It can be returned, but not as you would expect. And yet, it is celebratory in form. Given through presence.

“It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being.”
― John Joseph Powell

It could occur in passing in a store, in a line at the counter. A party with neighbors or coworkers to enjoin in the festivities of the season. A chance meeting of an old friend in a parking lot or local coffee shop. Those that are forlornly seeking a mere glimpse of their inherent beauty and worth, can come to find it in your face, expression and genuine warmth you exude.

A mirror has no sense of itself other than what it sees. And as we are not things, we do have a sense of ourselves in some measure. But being a mirror is not about how you feel. It is about reflecting another’s compassion and truth. Their worth and love. Entities that can somehow become hidden by self created and imposed filters. Shame. Rejection.

Your presence in those instances reveals to them images that cannot hide from reality. Things about themselves they need to witness.

So in anticipte and celebrate their arrival into your life, if but for only a moment. Affirm their true worth and singular beauty as a fellow human. Trumpet the good they will come to know in the time to come.

Reflecting what you truly see in them, brings out the best in you.

And they will then yearn to do the same for another.

A gift that keeps on giving.