Throughout my many years of coaching and training, I have implemented some maxims/philosophies… and I often will share them during camps and clinics as the “thought of the day.” One of the most often used philosophies is my “Abraham Lincoln Rule” --- based off of Lincoln stating, “If you give me 6 hours to chop down a tree, I’ll spend 4 of the hours sharpening my axe.” (Note: I’ve read this quote with different numbers but the idea remains the same…) The point being that one is more effective chopping with a sharp axe… yet sharpening an axe isn’t near as exciting as chopping wood! Likewise, doing drills is not near as exciting as scrimmaging or playing a game… This led to a maxim I chant throughout drills… “Get better… or get bored… it is your choice how you look at it!”
This thought came up again in my mind recently due to an old interview I saw with former NBA player Kenny Smith. He was talking about a coach in high school being honest with him… in essence the coach asked Kenny what he wanted to do with his life and Kenny responded that he wanted to play in the NBA. The coach was taken aback a bit, stating he had no idea that was Kenny’s goal because he didn’t ever see him working hard enough to accomplish that goal… Kenny then decided to dedicate his time to the goal and during his senior year of high school went from being a kid that had one scholarship offer to a kid that was ranked top 5 in the country and could choose his college (which ended up being North Carolina)… and then the number 6 pick in the 1987 NBA draft. So how did this EXTRAORDINARY player get to this point?
Typically, the word EXTRAORDINARY indicates someone or something that is very unusual or remarkable… it is typically tagged on someone that is extra-gifted athletically or in size… Kenny is a really good athlete but was not known for extreme athleticism… and he is only 6’3”, so not a short man but not tall by NBA standards. So again, the question is how? According to Kenny, he simply spent EXTRA time doing the ORDINARY things… he chose to get better, not bored… he sharpened his game!
Proverbs 12:24 states that “The hand of the DILIGENT will RULE, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.”
Let’s start with the word RULE: has the connotation of DOMINION… control or dominance. In other words the answer to being EXTRAORDIONARY… beyond the norm…
The word DILIGENT: I love this as the word literally means sharp… diligence/repetition sharpens the axe!
You want to be EXTRAORDINARY? Try spending some EXTRA
time doing the ORDINARY things of serving/loving God by serving/loving others!
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