…my temporary assignment.

“ One of the most fundamental statements of Christian faith is this: your  life is not about you. This is not your project. Rather, you are part of  God’s great design. To believe this in your bones and to act  accordingly is to have faith. When we operate out of this transformed vision, amazing things can happen, for  we have surrendered to “a power already at work in us that can do  infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.”   

-Bishop Robert Barron

This captures the very essence of the struggles one encounters on a daily basis.  

Heck, let’s be honest, minute by minute.

It is one thing to think it’s not about you.  To convince yourself to get your heart and mind right.  Commit to expressing that in the  words you choose, no matter the outlet, setting or audience.  Fully embracing a discipline to dedicate your personal forces to that  mission.  Aspiring to live as if it is not about you. 

But, it is another thing altogether to do it.  Let go, step aside and make it not about you. 

‘Cause when that starts to happen?  

Whammo. 

Colleagues begin to succeed.  Winning customers, landing projects and earning accolades for projects  that were once your bread and butter.  Those are no longer yours alone.  Roles have shifted.  And it  is now your time  to support their efforts,  to build them and enhance their career.

Then, true team dynamics can begin to take front and center.  The needs for growth via group goals may call you to become a utility man.  Your experience and abilities are now needed to fill in the gaps.  To address the pressing needs that present themselves in  shades of gray.  So rather than assuming  the lead in a role you know like the back of your hand, you step back, and let others step up.

Finally  then, the talents of others can begin to find their way to the surface,  emerge and be expressed. Potential, once  cloaked in doubt and fear , can now be revealed by them and finally “seen” by you.   Those wobbly, first baby steps of initiative can be taken.  And as their momentum grows, so too will their confidence.   The veil of trepidation is removed and things come into focus for all.  Now, surrounded by a greatness that was already present in all – all can ascend.  

As one. 

These and many other similar moments are where the rubber meets the road in life.  But you cannot just wish them to be.  Works of this magnitude take  courage, conviction and commitment. You must convert your  thoughts and words into the deeds and intentions for His project.  

Begin by slaying personal pride.  Squashing ego. Eliminating envy.

And rubbing dirt on the scrapes, bruises and boo boos that are sure to come.

Release your grip and allow His work to proceed in ways that need not be comprehended now but simply accepted with a sincere attitude of gratitude.  

After all, it’s His grand scheme of things. 

Not yours.

You can think it.  And you can say it. 

But until you  trust and  operate out of this “transformed vision”,  these amazing things cannot happen.  And you can never get to where He wants you to be.  

Where your true talents are fully expressed. 

Potential, no longer cloaked in doubt and fear, can finally be revealed.   

So take those wobbly baby steps. 

Build some momentum and grow confidence by embracing this direction.  Lose the veil of trepidation and allow His vision to come into focus for you.  Lean into His already present greatness so you might ascend.  Find true joy.  

Meaning.  

And belonging.

But until then, it’s all just wishing. 

“Sometimes it’s the same moments that take your breath away that breathe purpose and love back into your life.”

― Steve Maraboli

Another gem from Mr. Maraboli.  Someday.  But I digress….

The instances that we find to be breathtaking in the day to day are in reality moments meant to be resuscitative for the long term. 

Don’t allow the next shiny object to distract you from what is meant as true sustenance. 

Exhale not just the past, but what prevents you from taking in what is best for you. 

Just as he said, “breathe purpose and love back into your life”. 

Deeply.

“Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody’s business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy.”

― Thomas Merton

There are a great many elements that are made to flow into, mesh and create a positive, genuine, impactful and lasting impression when it comes to coaching. Whether in an athletic, professional or special needs setting, one ingredient surpasses all.  

Over the decades of coaching, it has become apparent that love is the one true catalyst for life rendering change, growth and achievement.  Connecting all together at an altogether different level. Not so much an additive meant to alter the chemistry of the participants.  But rather an individual or moment that precipitates a series of  life altering and affirming events.

As a coach, the  central tenet to coaching football is to foster player development through personal growth.

True player development is completely contingent on connecting to the individual within the player first.   Your message and methods need to reach, recognize and reinforce  both of these elements within  each person.

Getting to know each player on a personal level, learning about their interests away from the field and supporting their other activities are important aspects of establishing this connection. A coach needs to recognize that football is just one small aspect of a player’s much bigger life picture.

Connecting to the individual on this basis affirms their true value to you on a personal level. 

The individual within the pads.  

This transcends the game, their position and athletic ability. 

Despite the fact that you are the coach, and your initial connection and relation  was in the context of football, gaining your approval on a non-athletic level is very important to each player.  They will recognize that you are going to be there for them – with or without the pads.  

Your investment into them at this level brings trust.  They know that they can just be.  And that helps shed the armor – for them and you both.  You want them to be all they are and can become.  They want you to help them to get there. Loving them enough to bring this about is what really matters in the game of life. 

Knowing that you are there for them first, they will come to know that they can fail without fear, learn at their own pace, and aspire to fulfill their promise.  

This is to love. 

While this example gravitates towards the athletic side of things, I can attest that it lends itself to a professional setting, and now, working with those with diverse abilities. 

Coaching is not about stopping to inquire or wonder whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody’s business. What we are asked to do as a coach is to love. 

And this love itself will render both ourselves worthy.

“Perseverance is a positive, active characteristic. It is not idly, passively waiting and hoping for some good thing to happen. It gives us hope by helping us realize that the righteous suffer no failure except in giving up and no longer trying. We must never give up, regardless of temptations, frustrations, disappointments, or discouragements.” 

~ Joseph  Wirthlin

The key element to perseverance is one’s total engagement in the activity of persevering; to be mentally, physically,  emotionally and spiritually  connected to both enduring and overcoming adversity.

Recognizing it for what it truly is; an opportunity to be all you were meant to become. To display intention, resilience and most of all, character. 

To persevere, one must embrace and be fully committed to that moment. And most of all, be aware of that one moment’s ramifications on the future.

It is to behold that one incredible circumstance in such a way that it can only be endowed for what it truly is.  The indelible impression on your soul  brought by an endurance of this nature.

To persevere, is meant to reveal one’s character.

We must never give up. 

Never.

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.”

― Henri J.M. Nouwen

Like patience, joy requires intention, participation and an element of perseverance.  Undoubtedly, it is meant to be realized in life events; a wedding, anniversary, birthdays, dinner with mom and dad and the like,  But again, even in those circumstances, it needs to be discovered, recognized and embraced.  

Choosing joy requires that you add a sixth sense. 

The vision to see things, actions, events and others for what they are. Like the smile from a stranger. Your just made bed.  A reunion picture.  To hear what is actually being said or conveyed and appreciating the tone with which it is being delivered.  “Thank you.” “I appreciate that”. “Hi!”

To take in and absorb the aroma of a spring morning, fresh cut grass, cookies coming out of the oven. Closing your eyes and tasting those cookies, imagining how dinner is going to be, remembering the last time you had an ice cream cone.   Shaking a new acquaintance’s hand.  Putting your hand on another’s shoulder.  Having them place theirs on yours.  A hug.  

 When you come to think about it, joy simply abounds. That is, if you are open to it and allow it into your heart and soul.  

Trust your sixth sense and let it guide you. 

Not just as the outcome of a special event. 

But everyday.