Today will wrap up our "Coach'em Up" series, and if nothing else has been accomplished, my hope is that you have realized that we are all "coaches" in this life we are living, and that we will coach our athletes, students, co-workers, and family members up or unfortunately down. We've looked at four of the five C's in my coaching bag of skills ranging from constructing a positive growth mindset, correcting missteps and bad habits, confirming when the practice and effort meet, and celebrating when it all comes together where coach and athlete reap the benefits of the effort put forth. The fifth principle in this equation is the “consequence” of our efforts or lack thereof.
In our minds, there are only good outcomes or bad outcomes in life. If we work hard then the outcomes will be positive and beneficial. In contrast, if we fail to put forth maximum effort and we offer a lackluster pregame plan then we should expect the outcome to be less than what we would hope to achieve in life's endeavors. The adage, "Failing to plan is planning to fail" holds true in this conversation and you can substitute some other words in this statement that aptly fit today's FTM Thought. "Failing to practice, is practicing to fail", or "Failing to commit is committing to failure" both share some insight into the sessions we have looked at so far and frame up the conversation we are having today around consequences.
It only stands to reason that if we don't work hard then it is most likely that we will get out worked by our competition. Basketball superstar Kevin Durant is quoted as saying "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. Consequences. If you work hard you should expect to be prepared and being prepared creates an opportunity to be successful. Diligently studying for the test, normally results in a high grade. Running extra and drilling more typically produces confidence and confidence fortifies effort, and effort in most cases equals success. Marriages require constant work and even then, face a plethora of challenges and rocky ledges to navigate, but the reward of the effort provided is sweet and bountiful!
The Bible speaks to the matter of consequences for our efforts and is pretty clear what the outcomes are when we fail to provide appropriate effort in all our endeavors and roles that we take on as a coach/teacher. "The wages of sin are death..." Romans 6:23, Genesis 3:6-7 details what happened to Adam and Eve as a result of their choices, and once again Paul reminds us that "... God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Galatians 6:7. If we fail to sow hard work and preparation, the outcome will be a poor work ethic and poor performance when it comes time to play the game. If we place little importance on family time, then it is safe to assume our family will not place value on family connections. And at work, if we don't give our job our best, can we actually be disappointed when we don't get the promotion? Consequences are in most cases an end product of the effort we sow into our work or play. But, what about when we work relentlessly, we shoot 100 extra foul shots after practice each day, or when we pour ourselves into our family and we still come up short on the scoreboard of life. Well that is exactly where we are going to tie this whole series up with a pretty little bow on top!
Pastor Chip Ingram uses the phrase "suffering well" to explain the ideology of understanding that in our adversities and even in our afflictions there is a purpose for the "season" we are enduring. Of even greater relevance and importance is understanding that what we are enduring isn't about our suffering, but it is all about the impact of our suffering on the lives of those we live with, work with, play with, and share life with each day. Jesus is our prime example of the whole concept of suffering well. As Jesus neared arrest, conviction, torture, and eventual death on the cross, He cried out to His Father to spare Him of the ensuing pain and suffering. His prayer was "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42. Jesus was human and He felt pain just like you and I, but at the end of that short prayer He laid it out nicely, "not what I want, but what will be best for those You want me to impact". We have to realize that when we don't "win" the game, maybe the true purpose for us playing the game was to get better at one aspect of the game so that we can do better at a later date in time. Maybe our loss was so someone on the other team that was dealing with issues around self-worth. The game winning hit by that player might just save them from committing suicide. What if the promotion you didn't get was because God has plans to move you to a whole new career path, and if you had received that promotion you would not even consider changing jobs let alone careers. At the end of the day, if we give our best in practice, the classroom, or any other arena that we live and work and we do not get the results we perceived would come our way, we have to realize that at this particular time in life, it just wasn't meant to be and that the reason for the outcome may or may not ever be known to us, but that we trust God's plan is bigger than us and will be fulfilled through us or without us. That my friend is called faith.
I just got off the phone with my oldest, nephew/son Bo, and we were talking about faith. Faith is organic, faith should not be the same today as it should be tomorrow or two years from now. Faith has to be fed and in the context of our "Coach'em Up" series a daily dose of constructing, correcting, confirming, celebrating, and persevering consequences should all be a part of a healthy regimen in life. "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Coaches for Christ!
Coach Carter
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