“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”
– T.S. Eliot
You cannot possibly discover any of your limitations without first choosing to go directly to your limits. And then some. All along that way, you will surely face fear. Disappointment. Doubt. Uncertainty.
Defeat.
Embracing this level of risk requires unshakable will and determination. The resolve to fully commit. An unbound level of courage. Unshakable faith. And good old fashioned grit.
Yet at the end of the day, this is truly a worthy venture. A path well chosen.The only one that can reveal just how far you can go.
So press on toward what you think are your known limitations. Fully embrace that current threshold, eyes fixed and head-on. Then, fit into it. Embody the struggle. Fight your way through it, working your way all the way out to the other side.
Appreciate all that you have just become in the process. Discover what you can be in all of those similar moments yet to come.
Only when you choose to go too far will all of this become apparent.
The seasons most definitely transitioned this past week. The lawn has transitioned into its slumber. An abundance of golden leaves appeared all over. The mornings and evenings have this crisp feel to it. And the skies are just simply a sight to behold. Bringing with them a shining clarity as to what really matters.
This moment.
To begin the day seeing this vision in our backyard is in itself affirming and empowering.
“I get to start the day like this!”
I have no idea what the rest of it holds. That will be known soon enough. But for now, this is what I have, this is what I will hold and the rest will take care of itself.
“Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.”
– John Newton
This hymn swells my heart, fills my soul and wells up my eyes with true gratitude. Speaks to the twin blessings of both a divine and self forgiveness. How the sense of being saved rings true in a new found presence for life.
Whatever the source of one’s wretchedness, state of sin, spiritual need, distress or desperate need for rescue and redemption, His presence, love and loop of grace leads one to a saving source of repentance. Bringing forth an entirely different sensory affirmation of life in the world about us. An unmistakable melody of gratitude heightened by a new found vision.
Being lost is an orientation far more than simply geographical. It may not be readily apparent from an external perspective. But internalized, it can assume an excruciatingly painful and perilously winding nature, replete with false starts, stops and changes in direction. Dishonesty, self righteousness and a self absorbing sense of ego leads one to isolation and a perpetual nonexistence. Being present, engaged and invested are exchanged for absence, disconnection and apathy.
With renewed vision and a truer recognition of this existence born of His grace, that blindness gives way to an awareness of life and all it is meant to be. That loop born of His mercy for you is such that when you witness and receive it for yourself, you cannot help but to embrace the thoughts, words and deeds that can be freely given to those around you, so they might too live it for themselves.
Given the circumstances of the author of this replenishing hymn and that of the author of this post, we can all enslave others or enslave ourselves by and through sin. No matter our origin, that we all share in common. That is what gives us our original nature.
And as such, He encircles us with true redemption through grace in a heavenly embrace. A gift that once received that is intended to be given back. Not in terms of or in the form of a transaction. But just as freely as we ourselves were compensated as such. As a gift.
So that we all may know the sweetness of its sound. And follow its path leading our way back into His light.
I have long contended that football is the game of life. Being a player, like all of you, I am familiar with the challenges, discomfort and anxiety that can come with it.
The challenges of overcoming an opponent or task bigger than you think are. The discomfort that comes along with such a seemingly endless physical, mental and emotional effort whether it be practice or game. And the anxiety that accompanies not knowing the exact outcome of your work, being unsure you are doing it exactly right, fearing you are not enough and God forbid, you make a mistake.
Speaking from a common experience, if you play football, you are already living outside of your comfort zone. In football terms being a resident of the O-Line, some of you are at the first level. Others have moved towards the second. Still fewer, the third. And yet to be conquered, is the 4th level.
On extremely rare occasions can one go from one to four. That’s like a lottery ticket. Perhaps you can get to level three from one, if things are just right. But more often than not, you cannot skip steps, avoid work and wish your way into achievement. You need to work your way up and through each one to reach level four. The end zone.
You see, if you want to achieve the things you truly value and aspire to, you have to get used to being uncomfortable. Not just in the fall. But the year round. You have to commit and fully invest in embracing that sense of being challenged, some sense of discomfort and the anxiety that may accompany being unsure what is going to happen.
Again, speaking as a football player like you, living out of your comfort zone turns out to be the best place you can be. It promotes growth, confidence, perseverance, faith and a chance to become all you were meant to be. Whether it is school, your first job, college or pursuing your passion, you cannot go from level one to four. You must find work and make your way up that field, whatever it is.
Doing the things that ultimately take you to life’s end zone.
So that being said, let me offer a challenge.
For whatever reason, this one play causes a great deal of angst and worry. Most likely because it doesn’t give you a definitive assignment like the other plays. It just calls on you to all move towards the play as one, sealing off the LOS and moving to the second level. Vague I know. But you run it to perfection against cans in practice. But against bodies, you shrink, second guess and cringe about making a mistake.
How about getting out of your comfort zone on this one?
Better yet, get out of it for the whole game.
Embrace the challenges, discomfort and anxiety. I bet you will find that endzone more than a couple of times in those four quarters. And when all is said and done, you will know that you gave it your all no matter what. That in itself counts as a win.
Stands to reason you could go 2-0 on Friday then.
And keep the winning streak alive in the weeks, months and years to come if you learn the value of being uncomfortable.
I don’t watch a whole lot of TV, but I do find “The Voice” to be pretty good. At times, the stories of the singers and their journey to follow their passion can be very compelling. The coaches are good, solid people, excellent mentors and well equipped to support all sorts of talent that comes from everywhere and all walks of life.
So the other night, we watched it for the first time this year and got to know a newer array of coaches this time around. Michael Buble remained as the veteran, and was joined by Reba McEntire and Niall Horan. The fourth coach, Snoop Dogg, was an incredible addition to the team and truly something to behold. Although it was the only episode I saw this season, and the first time I saw him ever, my sense was there was this captivating emotional connection between the four.
Now aside from his music and business ventures, Snoop Dogg created a youth football league about 18 years ago to provide inner city kids an opportunity to participate in football and cheer. The focus of the Snoop Youth Football League is developing the person, teaching them values of teamwork, good sportsmanship, discipline and self respect, while stressing the importance of academics. His program has enabled over 60,000 kids to participate since its inception.
That night, in my view, Coach Dogg genuinely modeled every aspect of the words “man”, “father” and of course, “coach”. He was such a compassionate soul, a hugger. And regardless of his part in the show’s selection process, he would make his way on stage to console and encourage a singer that fell short, or celebrate them and his fellow coaches for a job well done.
At one point in the show, a young lady’s performance did not fare well and when it became obvious, she became quite emotional. Snoop went up to her, offered a tissue or two, and in true coach fashion shared something I will never soon forget.
Holding her with one arm, and with the other hand, his thumb and forefinger in the shape of an “L”, he said something that truly resonated with me, and I am sure many others. To paraphrase, showing her the “L” made by his fingers, Snoop said “this doesn’t mean loser or lose, but rather, lesson. So take this moment for what it truly is, a lesson. Learn from it, build on it, come back stronger and win.”
Offering a perspective possessing this mass has an innate ability to change life in so many ways. Every demanding, challenging and disappointing situation has within it opportunity, the potential for growth and achievement. But only if you are open to seeing it in this fashion.
For the only way you can become defined as the “L” by that single moment is if you choose to let it be so. However, should you choose to look at it as a lesson, it then becomes an opportunity to learn and grow so you can become what you were intended to be.
Witnessing that interaction with her and hearing his words of wisdom that night clarified many things for me. I bet for many others out there as well.
While that show features truly genuine artists with a voice unlike any other, seeking to further pursue their passion for music, what Snoop shared with the world last night speaks more so about life.
...my temporary assignment. 