Standing on the Steep Side

     During the break from school these last two weeks, I have really been fortunate to get caught up on some odd jobs around the house that I just had not had the chance to complete. It felt good to check some items off my own "to do" list. One of the tasks that is necessary for me to complete each year is to clear the leaves out of the gutters on our home. Where we live is surrounded by oaks, maples, and a variety of other deciduous trees that share their wealth of leaves with our yard, my truck bed, our driveway, and the aforementioned gutters on the house. As most of you realize an abundance of leaves packed into your gutters can only lead to problems if left unattended. The leaves will clog up the downspouts thus causing rain or melting snow to back up in the gutter and the extra weight of the wet leaves and water can result in the gutters falling from the weight and pressure. So saying all that, it is extremely necessary for me to do my annual gutter cleaning and our Winter Break provided me with the opportunity.
     This task is where the topic of today's FTM originates.  I positioned the ladder on the back side of the house to ascend up to the rooftop since the back side of our home is definitely the only side to make such an ascent. If you look at our home from a side view angle you would understand exactly what I mean. The elevation difference from the backyard to the front yard is probably about 40 to 50 feet. Once I made my way onto the backside of the roof standing and walking back and forth is really no big deal. The house has an awning that attaches to the roof which runs almost the entire length of the roof line. In other words if an accident occurred and I accidentally feel the awning is there to break the fall. No big deal. So I made my way the length of the roof, back pack leaf blower mounted, blowing out the gutters and also clearing the downspouts of any possible leaves that had made their way down the exit pipe for runoff water. That was the easy job, now I had to move to the steep side of the roof. Climbing up to the peak of the roof and looking over to the other side, automatically causes my knees to buckle a bit and my danger alert begins to sound off in my mind. Like I said the drop is probably 40 to 50 feet and add to that a backpack blower that weighs twenty to thirty pounds and you can see why my danger alarm was sounding off in my head. As I made my way over the apex of the roof walking with the backpack on my back no longer interested me. I removed the backpack and scooted it alongside my bottom side as I sat on the roof now, no more standing and walking for me! My fear of heights, coupled with my desire to stay healthy and alive,  plus common sense knowledge that falling from the front side of the house would be a serious health issue created a "heightened" (pun intended) sense of care and caution. I edged myself close enough for the extended hose portion of the leaf blower to reach the gutters and cautiously cleared the gutters in much the same way that I had done the rear section of gutter on the house. I didn't dilly dally around on the front side of the roof any longer than necessary and upon reaching the peak of the roof and climbing over the top, I once again was able to stand and walk confidently around going back over the roof line to assure that all the leaves and debris had been cleared. I descended down the ladder and patted myself on the back for a job well done!
     Standing back from the roof I reflected on the fear and anxiety I felt while standing, well sitting, on the front side of the roof. You see standing back and looking at both sides of the roof revealed to me that the pitch is exactly the same front and back. That means that there is no actual difference in how much of a risk exists to falling on one side or the other. Why was I able to walk around on the back side of the roof, yet as soon as I topped the roof line I resorted to sitting and scooting around the same roof? It had to do with trust. I trusted that if I were to fall on the backside of the house the awning would be there to break my fall and that knowledge gave me confidence and courage to complete the job. On the other side no awning and a higher drop depleted my trust and confidence in my own ability to walk around on the roof.
     Isn't that how it is in life? As long as we are in our comfort zone all is good and we walk around confidently knowing that as long as we stay on the "safe" side of the roof we don't have to worry about placing ourselves in too much of a risky situation. Our worries and concerns are slight at best because we are comfortable and our walk is familiar and has proven itself to be safe. Yet if we stay on the "safe" side of the roof the job that needs to be done will not be accomplished. The leaves had to be removed on the steep side as well and so it is in life that the jobs that involve more risk and pose a more "dangerous" set of choices need to be completed. Stepping out of our comfort zone, choosing to move over to the side of the roof without the awning is not what most of us choose to do on a daily basis. If we walked through life alone always fearing we might fail or fall our purpose in life would never be completed. But there is a big difference between my gutter cleaning experience and our daily lives. In life we have an awning that is there to buffer us in case we fall. We can trust and have confidence that if we fall, there is someone there to catch us. Our Lord and Savior reminds us in Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” With this assurance we can be bold, courageous, and trust that we can walk onto the steep side of the roof in life, and that God will be with us wherever we walk!
     As we enter 2017 it is my prayer that each of us seek to get out of our comfort zones and take that step of faith to accomplish more than we have ever attempted before. Some of us have ideas that need feet to get started, others have walls that we feel we will never be able to climb, and others have bridges that have been broken and need mending to rekindle a relationship. Whatever needs to be done take a step of faith this year, knowing that our God is with you and he is there to catch you if you fall! Stand on the steep side! Happy New Year! Coach Carter 

 

Comfort and Assurance in Loss

     Just the other day a dear family in our community, the Gilberts, were faced with the passing of one of it's members. The loss of a loved one is hard anytime, yet around any holiday the memories can be difficult. I can personally relate to this because my family lost our mother at almost the same time of the year in 1985. Although that was over thirty years ago I still miss my mother and have a message of comfort for anyone that has lost a loved one, whether it be recently or if it has been an extended period of time since your loss. On the morning of December 22, 2016 I was going through my morning time of devotion and prayer and my focus was set on those of us that have experienced the pain of losing a loved one. I typically journal my prayers and the following excerpt was a part of that particular day's prayer.
     Dear Father God, 
As I come to you this morning let me first ask you to comfort the Gilbert family. Anytime we lose a loved one whether it be expectantly or completely unexpectedly it is hard. We are devastated by the loss and the thought that we will never see this person that is such an important part of our life again. We may have regrets about things we left unsaid or even possibly something we said and never had the chance to say I'm sorry. We have sorrow for children that will grow up not knowing this person and those of us that did have the opportunity to know this person, but will no longer have them to call upon for friendship, advice, comfort, guidance, or possibly protection in times of need in this hard world we live. Comfort us dear Father God knowing that this person is not so far away, especially not as far away as we may think. The love shared, the lessons taught, the memories made, the foundation that has been set and the example that has been forged are all constant reminders that this beloved person is right here with us. A smile on a child's face, a saying or familiar way of handling a situation, kind words of memories from friends and acquaintances, morals displayed, advice given, lessons taught, or a special way of doing things are all reminders that will stay etched in our memories and our hearts for the rest of our lives. Let us keep those memories real as we pass down the legacy of this one we love so dearly and never let the thought that this part of our family is ever gone. Just as You have promised to never leave us nor forsake us as our Father in Heaven, our loved ones that have passed will remain in our hearts, memories, body, and soul forever. Thank you Father God for the knowledge that our loved ones are right there with us every step along the way. Amen
     Whether you have experienced loss in the past or if you are dealing with loss at this moment never feel like you have "lost" this person from your life. In so many ways that person is right there with you. Place your focus on all the ways this person's legacy is visible in your life. You are that person's legacy, carry it forward and never let it die or be forgotten! "... Never will I leave you nor will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a prosperous 2017 to each of you, may God bless you, your family, and your endeavors as we enter the new year! Never give up and never quit and always do your best! 
Coach Carter

 

How Can You Become a Better Coach in Life?

     I love coaching. To those that know me that is a pretty obvious statement because I have been coaching athletic teams for almost thirty years. Most of that thirty years has been spent coaching wrestling where I feel I am adequately capable because I wrestled myself in school and I have been around the sport pretty much since I was 13 years old. Let me do the math... that's around 40 years of exposure to the sport of wrestling. That time around a wrestling mat has given me an ability to see things and understand situations on the mat that many others might not be able to pick out. In other words my time invested in wrestling helped me become a better coach in wrestling.
     Several years ago while I was still teaching middle school my principal, Glen Kanipe, came to me and offered me the opportunity to compliment my coaching experience in wrestling with a new middle school sport, volleyball. At that time in the early 1990's volleyball was no where as popular as it is today, and to say I new enough about the sport to be a coach of it would have been a stretch for sure. I would compare it to someone asking me to teach physics or German, it was definitely out of my comfort zone. Mr. Kanipe explained that he felt I had the ability to coach and that the rest would come with experience and time spent studying the game. In the early stages observation, experience, and some good mentoring from a friend or two were my tools for starting this fledgling program in our school. I also read books on volleyball and studied how other programs achieved success. We experienced some early success which translated eventually translated into some championship seasons and even a couple of undefeated seasons.
     Fast forward about ten years to 2013 when I created Extreme Team Volleyball a local "travel" type volleyball experience for youth in our Lakeway area. At this point I realized quickly that my past knowledge of this sport was going to be a good base, yet the game had progressed so far and the depth of knowledge necessary to coach it was out of my current scope of understanding. To stay at a competitive level I had to reach out to resources that would actually coach me up and equip me with the understanding of the game that would be necessary to compete and succeed. Websites, coaching clinics, observing, and asking lots of questions enabled me to learn and grow to the point that I know feel more confident on the court and that has translated into success for the athletes I have had the opportunity to coach.
     You see I have the ability to coach, God has given that to me I believe, yet what I needed to coach a sport that I wasn't near as comfortable as I was in wrestling had to be sought out and acquired. Being a good motivator and hard nosed conditioner will take you so far, but if you don't know the offenses and defenses of a sport you can only go so far on hard work and hustle. It takes knowledge of the sport and an understanding of how things work together on the court to reach championship level output. Those skills have to be sought out they don't just come to you because you have the title of coach. Coaches that experience study, reflect, react, and modify on their sport and always seek out more knowledge of their sport of choice.
     Anything we want to do in life is pretty much just like that. Our walk in our faith is definitely similar to my "coaching up" experience. If we ever want to fulfill our purpose in life and help others as we are directed to do, we must immerse ourselves in what we believe in, and seek out positive counsel when we have questions. Just as in coaching, learning from others that have the experience and knowledge that we are seeking is a great opportunity for personal growth. I believe the tool that serves me best is my willingness to be a life time learner, understanding that I do not have all the answers and that I can takeaway something from every experience I endure or overcome in life.
     All of these skills will translate into an increased ability for us to "coach" others up in their life and in their walk of faith. I challenge you today to reflect on what areas you need to be coached up in so that you will be better equipped to "coach'em up" when given the opportunity. Prayer, meditation, studying, hearing, and memorizing to heart what you need to know are all "practice" tools that will grow you into a champion on the court of life!
Have a great day and a fantastic week. Coach Carter

What is Music if You Don't Dance?

     Our title today poses the question, "What is music if you don't dance?" I can extend the same concept to, what are books if we don't read them?, what is a bicycle if we don't ride it?, even going as far as what is food if we do not partake and eat it? All of these are beneficial and in most cases healthy opportunities to partake in, yet in the case of many of the aforementioned life choices many of us have not made the choice to "move" on the very things that will help us or benefit us in our lives.
     Books make a pretty good paper weight until they are picked up and read. The lessons, knowledge, and even entertainment they will provide are locked within the front and back cover and regardless of how many times you look at the book, pick the book up, or even browse through the pages the message that the book contains will not be obtained until you sit down and read the actual pages and chapters. Too often people buy a book or even rent a book at the library, only to leave it sitting on the coffee table or nightstand. Unfortunately, the knowledge within the book will not be gained until you make the move to read it. No osmosis available here.
     What about a bike? How about exercise equipment or sports equipment such as balls, skates, frisbees, or even tennis shoes made for walking or running? Soon we will be welcoming a new year, 2017, and a plethora of New Year resolutions will be made, committing to exercise more or maybe just to start exercising in some cases. Well the resolution is a good start, but the actual action of getting on the bicycle and regularly riding it, or the move to not only join a work out center, but to actually start working out is what has to happen before any of the benefits will be realized. We can go out and purchase the best shoes made for walking or running, but we will never gain the benefits until we put the shoes on the road or trail and put forth the effort to walk or run regularly.
     What about music? Our original question was what is music if we don't dance? Well obviously music can be enjoyed by the ear without having to do any type of physical movement, but I would suggest that without some type of movement whether it be head bobbing or actually moving our feet and body in some sort of manner music will not fulfill it's ultimate purpose. That is what music was created for, entertaining the mind and causing us to react to the mood that the music creates in us. Even if you aren't versed in the latest dance craze or you haven't been formally trained in the waltz, foxtrot, salsa, or maybe even the boot scooting boogie, when we hear music our foot begins tapping, our hands start clapping, and our bodies eventually begin swaying and bobbing. That is what music is supposed to do, don't hold back dance!
     One other example mentioned in the opening of today's FTM Thought was the idea of what good is food if it is not eaten? Although it's true that some of the stuff we eat today would probably do us more good if we didn't eat it, yet overall if we chose not to eat our bodies would soon grow weak, malnourished, and sickly to the point of eventual starvation and death. So out of all the other examples eating is one of those that we are all going to eventually do just because we have to eat or else. As I mentioned what we eat though is our choice. Healthy or unhealthy we choose what we take into our bodies because as we have concluded we are all going to take in calories on a daily basis.     
     The concept of eating is utilized throughout the Bible as well. One particular scripture that comes to mind is found in Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Taste and see, the end result won't happen until you have completed the first part of the command. How can we ever "see" if we do not first "taste" the word of God? Just as reading a book, listening to music, getting on your bike, or sitting down to the table to dine requires an action on our end so does our relationship with our Lord and Savior. If you have a relationship I challenge to go deeper, develop a routine, create a private time to spend with our Father. If you do not have a personal relationship it's time to move from the thinking about it stage to the action step of making it happen. Music without dancing is just noise, and a life without a purpose is just wasted air, "taste and see" what can happen if you place your life in the hands of the one that created you for such a time as this! 
Coach Carter

Coach =Teacher / Teacher=Coach

     As you read the title of this week's FTM Thought I'm sure many of you were thinking "Oh this one isn't for me" because maybe you haven't ever coached a sport or you aren't a teacher in the field of education. Well let me put those thoughts to rest real quick. If you are a parent then you coach and teach each and every day. If you are a coworker in whatever profession you work in then you should be encouraging, teaching, and supporting your coworkers every opportunity you have, which by the way is probably each and every day! If you are a student, a nurse, a construction worker, whatever it is you do you are coaching and teaching so my suggestion is read on this one is for you!
     Myself, I have been coaching athletes for over 30 years and I have been teaching in a school either as a classroom teacher or as a school level administrator for the past 25 years. Needless to say, I love what I do, it would be sad to be in the same profession as long as I have and not be content with your life. Actually, in my opinion, I don't believe there is a higher calling than to teach someone else what we have been given as knowledge. Whether we teach someone how to do long division or if we teach that same person how to bake a cake or how to fix a leaky faucet we are all teachers. Same concept applies in coaching. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to coach wrestling and volleyball for the past 30 years. Coaching athletes to love the sport they are participating in has always been job one for me, and then to coach up my athletes to get the most out of their potential as possible win or lose is a close second as a goal for me as a coach. In life more people might feel like a teacher, but not near as many would feel like the title "coach" fits the description of what they do on a daily basis. I assure you if you work, live, or spend time with other people you are a coach. I profess to you today that the two words are interchangeable and the two titles are actually one in the same.
     I say we are all teachers/coaches in life because we all have the responsibility to "teach" those we have been placed over such as our children, our coworkers, our students, etc.... and in that teaching we are tasked with the responsibility to "coach" them up along the way, guiding them, showing them the way,  leading them into the "game",  and then being there in support win or lose to prepare them for the next competition in life. The comparison between the two titles makes the names interchangeable. Let me explain.
     A coach strives to take an athlete from where they are when they begin and take them to a higher level of performance. A dear friend and fellow coach, Doug Swint, preaches to our athletes "Progression not Perfection" constantly. The mentality he is trying to develop in the volleyball player's mind is that none of us will ever be perfect, but we can all constantly be progressing and getting better at what we do. That holds true in the classroom as well. We do not teach students one set of skills and then say "Well you know everything now so you are finished", we teach them that one set of skills is necessary for the next step in the progression of learning new and more complex principles. It is a progression for sure.
     The teacher should always be a source of encouragement regardless of what condition his or her "team" is when they receive them each year. We should be coaching them up and finding the answers to the challenges that face our team during the upcoming season in the classroom. Coaches spend hours studying film of not only their opponent, but also of their own team to see what they can find to correct or "reteach" before the next competition or test as the case may be. During class a coach will find the mistakes his players are making and reteach them and practice them so that the next time they are asked to perform they will be able to carry out their responsibilities on the court, field, mat, or classroom wherever the competition is taking place.
     As I stated in the beginning of this week's post, I have had the opportunity to coach and teach for over 30 years and I have been blessed to have the opportunities I have had. It is my firm belief that as a coach/teacher we must do everything we can humanly possible to teach our athletes/students/ children/coworkers to never give up and to never quit. If we can instill in those we teach that concept then life will always be about what is next not about what happened in the past. During a volleyball season a couple of years ago I had a team that actually lost 42 straight sets in volleyball. I had taken a younger less experienced group of players and played them up in a league in nearby Knoxville, Tennessee. This team never gave up, working harder than any group I had ever coached, and constantly improved, doing so with a positive attitude along the way. Good sportsmanship and hard work characterized this team from beginning to end. At the end of the season the director of the league and the other coaches and referees presented me with a plaque as the "Best Coach of the Season". The guy that coached the team that didn't win a single set the whole season?? The director explained that everyone there was so impressed with the way the girls handled the adversity, the way they went about their game on the court and how they showed outstanding sportsmanship after each loss. And they all made note of how far the team had progressed during the season getting better at their overhand serves, passing, and other components of the game. The "Best Coach Award" wasn't really about me in the end, it was about how our team had performed and grew.  That plaque is more dear to me than any of the championship trophies my teams have garnered over the years because this group was recognized for something they can take away from athletics and apply to life. That is what teaching and coaching is all about. Proverbs 22:6 instructs, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Whether you work in a school, coach your child's little league team, or if you are a supervisor on the job, or possibly you are a parent raising your children we each have the responsibility to "coach'em" up! Coaching and teaching have one fundamental similarity that weaves the two together. We all want to see our team succeed. Success is not measured on a scoreboard or in how many championship trophies we acquire over the years. It isn't compiled in how many of our students graduate high school or even college. The true measure of our success will be in how many of our "athletes" go on to help others, teaching them and coaching them up in life. Go out and be a coach today! You are a teacher just be careful what you teach. Hard work, positive attitudes, diligent practice, and always progress over perfection in life! Play hard and live life! Enjoy your life you only have one to live!
Coach Carter