"That Stinks"

My normal morning begins between 4:00-4:30 each day, and while I am going about my daily schedule, I always allow our dog, Essie, to run about outside for a while. As soon as the door opens she is off to the races barking at deer grazing in our yard, squirrels gathering acorns, and otherwise setting up the perimeter of her home territory. It is actually a little comical the way she commanders the area almost like she has a "No Trespassing" sign posted for all the creatures of the surrounding woods and her life's purpose is to keep outsiders off the grounds. That's all good until Spring hits and some not so frequent flyers begin to prowl around searching for whatever it is they are hunting and creating the potential for what I would label a "stinky situation". 

 

I don't know what it is about skunks, but if there happens to be one in close proximity to our house, Essie will definitely make contact in a bad way. You would think she would remember the tomato juice baths and the peroxide/baking soda/ dish-washing detergent lathers and stay clear, but that is not the case. And it never fails, the mornings that she gets sprayed are mornings when I am either ahead of schedule and thought I was cruising with time to spare, or inevitably her scented excursion correlated with a meeting on my schedule to which I did not have arriving late as an option. In other words, the timing of the spraying made me say both literally and figuratively "that stinks".  

 

Like I mentioned above, an unexpected event such as Essie's stinky situation preemptively disrupts my schedule, creating a need to redistribute my available time, or possibly modify my calendar when necessary. When something disrupts our "normal" day, we tend to get a little flustered, or in some cases it might be better to say angry or mad. But, what if that "stinky" situation changed my schedule just enough that I avoided an accident on my morning commute? What if my redirected attention to Essie manipulates my morning routine just enough so that I run into an old friend that needs a friend at that particular moment? I guess what I am trying to say is what if that "stinky" situation is actually the impetus for successfully fulfilling God's purpose for that particular moment in your day to day life?

 

At my core, I do not believe in coincidences. I believe God has a plan for our lives and along the way we either choose to fulfill God's plan for that life, or God makes a way for His plan to be fulfilled whether we are involved or not. In Romans 8:28 the Apostle Paul reminds us of this truth with the following scripture, "... we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." I may have had a plan for the morning on a day when Essie got skunk sprayed, which in turn altered my plan and in turn may have altered what happened on that day. What if we could alter our mindset regarding much bigger situations and circumstances in our lives? What if the time spent fixing a flat tire during your morning commute led to a chance encounter on a lead to your next career step? What if the break-up in a relationship was what had to happen for you to meet your future partner for life? What if the thorn in your side wasn't there to cause you pain, but instead to teach you that you are strong enough to face anything with God in control? (II Corinthians 12:9-11) The list goes on and on, it all depends on our perspective, which we have total control over when it comes to making that decision. 

 

When Essie gets skunk sprayed and it is pretty much inevitable that she will, it stinks. Both literally, and figuratively anything that messes up our ideal life "stinks". Yet, if we get past the smell and look for the bigger picture, it will almost always display God's portrait for life. You have a purpose, God has a plan, and at times we need an opportunity to realign our plans with His plan. It may stink, it may not feel comfortable, but just as Paul assured the church in Rome and thus all followers of Christ, "all things work together for good." To accept that truth, you must have a relationship of trust and faith which happens as we spend time in reading the Word, regularly praying to and listening for God, and ultimately being able to say "Thy will Father not my own" (see Luke 22:42). Give God control of your life and then seek out His will in all things, once you can see beyond your own wants and desires, then you will truly receive the blessings that God has in store for the life He purposed you to live!

 

Coach Carter

A Door, a Path, and a Light

 It goes without saying that each morning when you open your front door, activate the garage door opener, or even if you slide down the Batpole into your awaiting Batmobile, you have a destination in mind, a path to follow. It is also presumable that the vast majority of folks that are walking out their door each morning are greeted by the morning sunshine which provides ample light to more clearly see the path you are about to journey. But, what happens when the door we need to access is locked? What if the door does open, yet storm clouds keep us from seeing the path we need to journey? There is a key to every door we encounter, and there is a light that will illuminate every path we will embark. A door, a path, and a light the answer is found in one simple response, "I Am". Jesus refers to Himself as many things throughout His teachings in the New Testament but for today's purpose let's look at these three in particular.

The ancient Chinese saying that a "journey of a thousand miles begins with that first step" resonates well with my soul, yet before we can start that journey and take that first step we have to open the door. Easy enough you might be thinking, but the symbolic door I am referencing may not be so simple to open, especially if you don't have the key which unlocks the door and enables you to take that first step. Fear, uncertainty, lack of needed resources, past failures, or whatever stands in front of you as a locked door to opening your potential has to be dealt with and overcome before you can ever take that first step through the door you are facing. In John 10:9 Jesus proclaimed that "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." For me, Jesus is saying enter your life's journey through His door and not only will you journey, but you will find what you need to carry you through to your destination. Seek God's will for your life, in so doing you will unlock the door of opportunity, purpose, and your calling in life (Matthew 6:33). 

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6. Once we go through the door we must journey onward, seeking the path that God has set before us to travel. There are many roads we must choose from in our daily walk, unfortunately the vast majority are one-way streets that lead to a dead end. Jesus talked about walking the narrow road in making our decisions about which path to take in life. In Matthew 7:13 Jesus said "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." How do we know if we are choosing the right path, God's path? We seek God and His will for this life we have been given to live. Reading His word, spending time in prayer and meditation, worshiping and praising God each day, all of these are examples of how we better understand which door we need to open and which path God has intended for us to travel. 

In other words, if we spend time getting to know God's plan for the life He gave us to live, then the door will be unlocked, the path we are to journey will be clear, and the light of God will live inside of us and will illuminate our life's journey regardless of the challenges we encounter. Once again Jesus uses a powerful "I am" statement to reinforce who He is in our daily walk of life. "... I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12. Even in the darkness our path will be illuminated by the light that shines eternally in us and through us. Will we encounter trials and tribulations? Of course, God didn't say come follow me and you will never encounter hardship or challenges. Instead, God tells us that He will be there shining His glorious light in our life, allowing us to continue to see the path in the midst of life's storms and darkness. 

Whatever you are experiencing right now it is part of your journey. You may feel as if you are on the mountain top and all is good. God is with you, He opened the door and illuminated the path. If you are stuck in the darkness of a storm and you feel trapped in your circumstances, be of good courage because God offers you that same presence in your life. You may have a decision that has to be made and you need God's guidance and/or strength, He is there and He will direct your steps and assure you can see where you are headed in your life's journey. 

Jesus refers to himself as the door, the path, and the light because He is. Wherever you are in your own personal journey my advice is don't go it alone! He is the door by which we should enter. He is the designer of the path we should follow. And, He is the light by which we will see our way when the darkness appears. 

Coach Carter 

 

72 Degree Mentality

Beyond my life experiences as an educator, I also spent over 30 years of my life either working in or operating a market/deli that our family owned. Over the course of those 30 years I held pretty much every job title available from parking lot sweeper to manager and eventually owner. I guess one of my favorite roles, outside of working the grill, was as a cashier. I enjoyed talking with our customers and over the years developed so many friendships that have endured long after we sold the business in 2010. What became a common closing to the majority of those conversations was a salutation that I carried with me beyond my years in retail to the point that it flowed out of my mouth at the end of most of my conversations. As a person turned to leave our establishment I would quip, "See you later, don't work too hard". Looking back now from my more experienced and hopefully wiser lens of life, I have to ask myself, "What were you thinking?" For over thirty years I basically advised people to take it easy on the job, don't do your best, and definitely don't work too hard!" 

 

Inherently, my intent was never to encourage mediocrity, yet as that phrase became the prevalent closing remark in conversations with my own son and daughter, I had to rethink what kind of subliminal message about work and life I really wanted to convey. Somewhere along the line, that phrase, "Don't work too hard" became more of a warning to those who were putting in a good day's work. Today I cringe when I think about the hundreds or thousands of times I made that farewell to customers, friends, and family. Over the last twenty years I have reinvented my "see you later sentiment" to more of a "work hard and do a good job" statement. In a society where working hard somehow has become equated to a lower level of life, I believe it is our responsibility to inspire every generation that we can have an iota of influence with to definitely work hard, get dirty when necessary, and always give your best. 

 

Regardless of the type of work we are doing whether it is our job, volunteer efforts, or even chores around the house, we should model and make working hard the expected norm. I recently heard a statement that aptly fits in this conversation on the state of being comfortable and not "sweating" in our day. Author and financial advisor Dave Ramsey commented that "We have become a society that leaves a 72-degree house, gets into a 72-degree car, and then arrives at our 72-degree office." This is a curt commentary on where we are as a society, yet I feel this same statement is an appropriate reflection on the mentality of "Don't work too hard". America was founded on the backs of men and women who worked hard, it is imperative that we regain that mental toughness and that we instill a work ethic that will persist through the not so comfortable hot and cold moments in life. As we raise our sons and daughters, and as we educate the next generation of leaders, let's make sure we instill in them the inert desire to work hard, work through being uncomfortable, and to always give their best. 

 

A favorite scripture of mine from the Apostle Paul reminds me that we must get outside of that 72-degree comfort zone. Colossians 3:23 says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,". In other words, give your best and work hard, what you are doing is a direct reflection on our service to God. It is time to remove the "Don't work too hard" context from our vocabulary. Civilizations and countries were not built on the back of mediocrity and comfortable 72-degree settings. As parents it is critical that we move from a society of not wanting things to be too tough, to a mind shift of you can do tough things. This should carry over into academics in school, participation in athletics (not everyone needs to get a trophy, I'm just saying...), and most definitely on the job as we give our best and do the hard work that is necessary. What are your expectations in your own life? Do you model grit and resilience in your work life? When work gets tough do you give in or do you dig in? What lessons are you teaching those you have influence over whether it is your family, young people you teach, coach, or work with each day. Work hard, give your best, and know that you will influence someone each day, what will that takeaway be?

 

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3

Coach Carter 

 

The Easy Wrong or the Hard Right

As humans we have been given the innate ability to make tens of thousands of choices each day. Whether we fully realize it or not, each of those decisions have either a direct or indirect impact on your day. The alarm clock blares out its morning wakeup call and we either hit the snooze button or we decide to roll on out of bed and into the shower. That choice, simple as it may seem, will impact your morning and potentially the whole day.  Think about it, that 10-minute snooze causes you to be off your regular schedule so automatically your day is going to start behind schedule. The ensuing chain of events minor as they may be are just that a chain reaction of sorts. When you do rise from your extended slumber your heart rate is naturally going to run a little faster because you are off schedule. You may have to skip or at best decrease some important aspect of your morning routine such as working out, devotional time, or consequentially passing on breakfast. In much the same line of thinking as "If you give a mouse a cookie..." skipping breakfast leads to making an unwise substitution for your morning meal, i.e. high caffeine, high sugar, low nutritional value option (I'm thinking white cup, green logo). This in turn may cause you to over respond to the hunger pangs and you hyper indulge when it comes time to eat the midday meal. I could go on and on about the simple choice of hitting a ten-minute snooze button, but I'm guessing you can see the picture I'm attempting to paint. The key message here is this, easy decisions, in this case simply touching a snooze button on your phone, lead to numerous outcomes throughout your day. Restating the obvious, life is full of choices and decisions each day, yet the matter at hand is more about whether you will choose what is labelled the "easy wrong" or will you step up and choose the "hard right"?

 

You can replace hitting the snooze button with pretty much any choice that you will make on a daily basis. You can extend this concept outside of the mundane and apply it to decisions you make surrounding school, work, family, finance, and ultimately your faith. Let’s look at a couple of examples of how the "easy wrong" can lead us towards a hard and bumpy road, while choosing the "hard right" thing to do creates pathways towards resilience, integrity, and ultimately faith. After a late-night ballgame, you make the decision to not complete your homework and hope that the teacher will have mercy on you due to the late ending game. That represents an "easy wrong" while the "hard right" choice clearly is to persevere through the assignment knowing that you really want to make a strong grade in this challenging class. The teeter totter effect of this simple choice in a high school class creates a trajectory for future choices in other classes, and ultimately in life. The "easy wrong" choice develops a sense of self-pity and lack of accountability creating an adult that makes excuses and blames others or circumstances for their life's outcomes. The resilience and fortitude that you develop by choosing the "hard right" of being responsible and accountable to your grades, classes, and teachers spills over into your life as you become someone that others can count on when the going gets tough and the deadline is approaching. For our next example let's close our eyes and place ourselves in a situation. You're driving down the interstate and up ahead you see a car sitting off the road with a flat tire. As you get closer you realize the sidelined auto belongs to an elderly couple who appear to be struggling with the situation. Do you choose the "easy wrong" and excuse yourself out of stopping to aid? "They probably have already called their family to come help." Or, "I would stop, but I'm already running late for my dinner date." The "hard right" in situations such as this has us thinking about what we would want someone to do if it was our teenage daughter stranded on the highway. The "easy wrong" in any similar situation like this feeds a "me first" personality that often justifies away accountability by excusing ourselves out of civic duty or even blaming the victim so we don't have to get involved. The "hard right" fosters a sense of service before self and a servant leadership mindset that we must instill in those we come in contact with each day. 

 

At the end of the day the "easy wrong" and the "hard right" choices we make have a far-reaching impact on the life of each individual, way beyond one homework assignment or a little snooze button support every now and then. Joshua, who followed Moses as the leader of the Israelites made his own declaration of choosing the "hard right" near the end of his life. "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:14-15. The "easy wrong" here is live life for self. No sacrifice, no service, no placing God first before the material world. The true "hard right" choice is all about deciding who you will serve. The more we commitment the easier life becomes, in the hard times, in the rough moments, we have God's promise that he will never leave us nor forsake us. Jesus had a choice to make when he faced Calvary's Cross, the "easy wrong" choice would have been to let us face life on our own, the "hard right" choice cost him pain, suffering and ultimately a cruel death on the cross. His "easy wrong" choice would have meant life without the promise of salvation for mankind. His "hard right" choice gave us a chance to have life eternally with Him. You may have already made the choice to give your life to God and you understand that you will still face those "easy wrong" and "hard right" choices each day. Or, you may not have ever made the decision to follow God and give your life as a living sacrifice in service to Him. Regardless, be certain, we all will face "easy wrongs" and "hard rights" throughout our lives. God's word will guide you as you navigate life's choices. Follow the example of the One who made the "hard right" choice to give His life for you and for me. "My Father, if it can be done, take away what is before Me. Even so, not what I want but what You want” Matthew 26:39. 

Coach Carter