I was recently observing a basketball workout in which
the coach was giving just some basic drills with a competition-twist… in other
words, he was telling the players to count how many shots they were making in
the minute-long drill and then having them call out to him how many they each
hit. So obviously the competitive fires get burning and players want to “win.”
The same is true even if I am doing a clinic for little
kids and have them compete…. And yet, I always witness the same thing, pride
overriding process/preparation! What I
mean by that, is that players will cut corners and even cheat just to look like
they “won.”
Whether it is a shooting drill that calls for using the weak
hand and the player ignoring that direction to make more shots; or a dribbling
competition that demands a player keep the dribble alive and stay inbounds,
only to see players restarting their dribbles and stepping on lines; or even a
ball control drill where the coach asks for the player to close his eyes, only
to see the squinting to make sure they can keep control… these are all examples
where players worry more about that temporary feeling of pride than trusting that
the coach is building something in them! We live in a society where we want instant
success, and will settle for just the appearance of it… I love sharing a John
Wooden maxim that reminds us to “not mistake activity for achievement.” Yes,
one may “win” a drill but if not done the way the coach called for, it did not
achieve the goal of the drill.
Preparation/process takes time! For instance, people love
to talk about John Wooden’s 10 national championships in a 12 year span… but
don’t often discuss that the first one came in his 16th year of
coaching at UCLA…
God is at work in your life and wants/plans to use you…
but remember it is a process of trusting the Coach! He has even promised in His
Word (Philippians 1:6) that “He who began a good work in you will perfect it
until the day of Christ Jesus.” In other words, He will complete the process,
you can trust Him!
Here’s a great version of Psalm 119:1-8 from The Message:
1 You're blessed when you stay on course, walking
steadily on the road revealed by God.
2 You're blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.
3 That's right - you don't go off on your own; you
walk straight along the road he set.
4 You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now
you expect us to live it.
5 Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to
the course you set;
6 Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my
life with your counsel.
7 I thank you for speaking straight from your
heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
8 I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't
ever walk off and leave me.
No comments:
Post a Comment