Tag Archives: love

Saints

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“Something I shared with all back in 2017. Came across it tonight and thought it good to share again. This made me misty eyed, but he still makes me smile. “

To set the tone for this day and his homily this evening, Father Matthew sought to describe the essence of a saint. Part of which resonated with this author.

“Someone that does what they do, the way that they do it”.

Rick Hader left this world today.

All too soon. And the hurt is palpable. But it is All-Saints Day. He has a chance to play to a much larger crowd, in a storied venue. Doing what he does. The way he does it.

I had the honor of blocking for him in college as a Siwash. He was All-Conference as a running back, and All-American as a role model, man and friend if you ask me. (Rick is #44)

He was just as gifted running between the tackles and catching the ball coming out of the backfield as he was cracking us up. The voices, faces, mannerisms and making his teeth squeaky clean with only an index finger were recurring bits in the dorm, on campus and in the huddle.

He found great joy in making us smile, laugh and forget about things for only a little while.

Now, 37 years later and aided by some hindsight, I now realize he was building his schtick there at Knox College. And creating his persona.

For Myron Noodleman was right there with us all along. But it was just Rick.  Doing what he did. The way he did it.

I would encourage you to take a few moments and read about this national nerd.

It details a wonderful life’s journey from Park Ridge to Broken Arrow. Starting as a janitor, to being a beloved high school math teacher and becoming a diamond doofus.

An All-American role model, man and friend to many that found great joy in making thousands upon thousands of people smile, laugh and forget about things for a while.

Go deeper, between the lines and you will come to know them  both as I. A match now made for heaven. A pair with the guts to listen, heed their calling and fearlessly follow it. And from what I understand, all the way to the end.

Your departure has left a big hole in the lives of many. But there are warm and lasting memories enough to fill it back in, bring a smile to the face, some laughter for the heart and offer many a respite from things for a while.

Just Rick and Myron doing what they did. The way they did it.

Saints if you ask me.

Practice

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“Again, another share of a post from years ago, promoting the value of practice. Not just on the field, weight room, office, board room, home, community. But every where. Always and in all ways:”

The competitive nature of athletics is said to develop character.

And, it is thought that adversity’s task is to reveal it.

Perhaps.

But maybe character isn’t so much in need of development or of being revealed. Though its expectations remain high, it could be that character’s demands are much simpler to grasp.

Maybe character is just desperate to be spoken. And then, heard.

To be trusted and afforded the benefit of the doubt.

That stands to reason. Since character always knows the right thing to do and just when to do it.

And as you begin to listen, then hear, you will find yourself drawn closer towards it. Finding comfort in its embrace, a sense of purpose in its guidance and a growing courage to use it to face everything life can throw your way.

Character simply yearns to be the first, the best and the last choice you would ever make.  And learning to act upon its “recommendation” puts you on a trajectory aimed directly toward your best interests.

Let’s look at it this way.

To effect tangible, positive and lasting influence on anything you choose to master, only one thing is known to work.

Practice.

If it is engineering, medicine or teaching that has captured your heart, then you put your desires to practice.

The cello? Singing arias, painting with watercolors, architecture, cooking or film?  Mastery is not gained in one attempt.  But in many.

It takes practice.

Is it service that calls you?

Then finding the pathway – both within and without –  that will lead you there takes effort, commitment.

And, practice.

For some, athletic competition is what makes the spirit soar.  To become all you intend to be, you have to employ all that you are to honor that purpose.

Through  practice.

So to be able to hear, trust and embrace character’s voice?

It takes practice.

By developing good listening habits.

Getting attuned to its singular voice.

Hearing its message.

Having faith in its command and making a commitment to heeding its wisdom.

Learning to allow it to be your unshakable guide and loyal mentor.

And developing  the patience to allow it to do its work.

Over, and over, and over, and over again.

Putting character into practice.

The Pail.

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“Towards the end of my tenure in youth football, I bought a pail, gathered some dirt and shared with the kids the idea of “rubbing some dirt on it”. A way to get past the aches and pains in all forms that accompany football and life.

The pail was set on the practice field and by the bench at each game for whomever needed or wanted some.

Seems like we can all use some dirt at some time in our life.

Below is my post to them: “

You might have noticed a pail sitting by my bags and equipment boxes today.

In that pail, lay some of the most fertile soil around. Dark, rich, 100% Lemke Park dirt. At one time, it could have been home to corn, wheat  or soybeans.  Perhaps even hay. 

But now, it grows the best piece of grass in all of Mequon-Thiensville. Even to this day, a farm of sorts if you will. Where some of the best young men and football players in the state  are grown. So it stands to reason, that because both – grass and football players – grow so well out there, there must be something about that dirt. 

Not just organic. 

But truly medicinal in nature. 

Sure we have ice packs, tape, pro-wrap, pads and band-aids. 

But we also got that dirt. 

In that pail.

So the next time things don’t go your way, there are moments of anxiety, disappointment and just plain fear, take some. 

If you find yourself making more than your fair share of mistakes and feeling sorry for yourself, help yourself to a pinch. 

Have bruises on top of bruises?   Aches ?  Pains ? Scrapes? Boo boos? Or just plain worn out ? 

Grab a handful and apply some to where it hurts. 

Just think of what that grass goes through; getting walked on, run across, torn up, scuffed, staked, driven over, flooded and frozen each winter. And yet, it still just wants to keep coming back. 

Sort of what young men and football players are meant to do too. 

So when those times come – and they will – you need some. I will make sure the pail will be there. Filled with that  dark, rich, 100% Lemke Park dirt. 

Soil that is home to the best piece of grass in town. 

And all of you.  

The finest young men and football players around.

Unordinary.

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“We meet no ordinary people in our lives.”

― C.S. Lewis; Inspirational Christian Library

My mom’s father, Grandpa Cordts, “knew no strangers”.  Whenever I was with him out in public, at the store, getting gas, buying worms or playing putt-putt, everyone within sight and sound seemed to know him. 

That isn’t to say that he or they did.  It is just that EVERYONE he encountered each day, no matter the circumstance, investment or need was approached as a friend.  Someone that went way back. The one in the back row of the picture.  A compatriot. 

Was not aware of it then, but as I go about daily life now, how he went about life left an impression on me.  As it stands, I don’t know any strangers either. 

And when you go about it in that fashion, you cannot believe what you learn.  

Once they recognize that they can just be open, all sorts of things flow out.  Not that they are meant to be sewed all over.  Just that they want me to hear and know it.  Shared as a friend. With trust and an understanding that it was in some sense collaborative, restorative and affirmative. 

And is ain’t all one sided.  You share as well.  In an equally genuine fashion.  Maybe you only see them the next week, month or year.  Perhaps never again.  But they did.  You did.  

And it was something.  

Maybe substantial in certain situations.  Maybe just the spur of the moment.  

But again, if you think about it, not really ordinary.  In all actuality, those chance moments become special.  Not because they were designed that way.  But simply because they were.  

Unordinary.  

Like them.  

And what we – and they – chose to make that encounter to be.  

Unordinary.

Passion

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There is a misconception about the relationship between emotion and passion.   

Both might be considered sources of energy, enthusiasm and effort in the context of performance.  But truth be told,  they are neither equal nor interchangeable. 

When it comes to impacting performance, emotion is like kindling.  Twigs, branches, scrap lumber.  Remnants of something fallen. Leftovers of things that used to grow, and sustain life. Now? Readily combustible. Prone to sudden ignition. Just waiting to be lit.  And given certain conditions, situations or settings – elements that can be dangerous.  Exhibiting the potential to erupt into an uncontrollable flame.  Kindling – like emotion – can burn white hot in an instant,  spread rapidly without  regard for its surroundings and consume all in its path. Even ultimatley,  consuming itself. 

Emotion follows whatever happens to start it and then feed it, but only for that moment, burning a path wherever it happens to be led. More often than not it comes as a response without regard for consequence, leading to actions built on misdirected energy, focus and intention.  Haphazard. Indiscriminate. And entirely unsustainable.  Much like kindling, pure emotion can behave absent of any purpose other than to consume.  Entirely contingent on the right setting, circumstance and source for ignition. A reaction for reaction’s sake alone. 

Passion, on the other hand, is an altogether different kind of energy source. 

It is more akin to oak, maple or birch. Hardwoods, that grow sturdy in the elements, forged by the relentless challenges of the environment, weathering the storms of each season. Made to soldier on despite drought, flood, blizzard or injury to limb.  Unlike the scattered forces of emotion, passion – like the oak – is an entity that is firmly grounded. Its roots are set deep and poised for growth.  Passion is about exerting one’s full intention no matter the elements.  Maximizing capacity regardless of the environment.   Soldiering on, above and beyond each and every obstacle raised.  

True passion is a fuel that is meant to be stoked by purpose.  

One made present in a form that can be tempered contingent on the circumstance.  Like seasoned oak, passion is intended to burn for the long run.  Capable of sustaining a high level of energy for a relentless drive that commands a consistent and persistent release over time without condition. Passion is a source of energy that is made to be delivered with precision. Producing light when things look their darkest.  Enhancing clarity in moments of truth.  The catalyst that  forges steel.   

Emotion alone is incapable of sustaining this kind of effort.  Only passion is equal to this task.  

Don’t get me wrong, emotion is important.  It is an integral part of our personal infrastructure. An element well suited to ignite new ventures.  

But in the context of the life-long pursuit of achievement, success and excellence, emotion can only take you so far. It may enable you to perform briefly at a high level. But only in the correct setting, proper circumstance and timing.  Emotion is dispensed in unsustainable, sporadic bursts.  Moments that once extinguished, are out.  

And gone for good. 

Passion is the only genuine and self-perpetuating source of energy for all that you choose to accomplish.  It is born of your mindset. One grown in the open, exposed to the harshest conditions and unrelenting environments.  Only passion girds you to weather the storms of the season, keeping you firmly grounded, roots set deep,  poised for growth.  

Passion is all about exerting your full intention no matter the elements or the competition.  Maximizing your capacity regardless of the environment.   

Passion leads you to soldier on, above and beyond each and every obstacle raised.  

So before you take that field tomorrow night, head to the office or look to find your role. by all means, light that fire. Stoke it white hot with a level of emotion reserved for each day of the week.  

But then, as things happen, good or bad, be sure that you feed others with your passion.  Guide your collective energies with intention.  Drive yourself forward with purpose. Soldier on, as one, above and beyond each and every obstacle raised.

Fuel your performance as one with something more sustaining than just kindling.