Week 50 | Kemba

I think we have all had experiences where we felt like we were done wrong and/or didn't get something we deserved. There has been a team we feel like we should have made that we didn't, a starting spot we felt like we deserved but we didn't get, and there are awards that we felt like we earned but were given to someone else.

Kemba Walker went from being the starting point guard for the New York Knicks to the very end of the bench - overnight. He has had a wonderful career, and he is from New York City, so the entire city was excited to have the hometown kid come back and lead their franchise.

But he hasn't been playing great, and his head coach not only took him out of the starting lineup, but took him completely out of the rotation. That meant, he went from starting to not playing at all!

But through all of that adversity, he never pouted and he never quit. He kept a positive attitude, he kept working hard, and when his time came, he was ready. 

Kemba is now back in the starting lineup and playing good basketball, including a Christmas Day Triple-Double.

Some people find problems, while others find solutions.

When asked about his return after the game, Kemba said:

"God just works in mysterious ways, man. He's blessed me, he's helped me stay humble, grounded, and he just got me through a tough situation. I just continued to work, and time goes on and guys go down, and I'm back. First game against my old team, I'm back in the starting lineup, and the rest is history from there.

"Everything happens for a reason."

Trials and tribulations are a part of life. Injuries, being cut, and being benched are real trials that almost all of us face. Those trials don't end with sports. Getting fired, missing out on promotions, and not getting certain jobs are realistic realities outside of sports.

There are many Biblical stories of people who have faced great trials and adversity, and one of my favorites is the story of David.

Many know David as the boy who took down Goliath. He became a favorite of the first king of Israel, Saul, and his son, Jonathon, but Saul became paranoid that David was going to take his throne, and attempted to kill David, forcing David into hiding for years. Saul and Jonathon were eventually killed in a battle against the Philistines, and David was announced the king over Israel and Judah, and he eventually conquered the city of Jerusalem, he made it Israel’s capital and he brought the Ark of the Covenant into the city.

Kemba and David were both blessed and highly favored, lost their favor, and regained it.

Adversity and storms are a part of the human experience, and it is a part of the Christian experience as well. “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim 3:12).”  “Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you (1 Pet 4:12-14).”

Keep working hard so when your time comes, you are ready. Know that trials, tribulations, and adversity are a part of the journey, and put your trust in God knowing that all things work together for the good of those who believe (Romans 8:28).

This Week:

1 - Know that trials and adversity are coming. When it hits, thank God, because suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope (Romans 5:3-5).

2 - Be a leader. You know that trials and adversity are coming. Find ways to help motivate, inspire, and serve others so that they can grow through their trials.

3 - Pray: Our Father, thank you for your leadership, your blessings, and your grace. I know that trials and tribulations are a part of the human experience. I also know that trials and tribulations help me grow stronger as a person, and they help me grow closer to you. As I go through difficult situations, please help me to call on you and lean on you first because I know that you will help me through anything and everything. In Jesus's name I pray - amen.

You can find a Google doc version of this here: Week 50 | Kemba

Week 49: The Parable of the Talents

We have all been given different talents and gifts. Steph Curry can shoot the ball like nobody in the history of the NBA. Tom Brady defies time with the way he throws the ball. Megan Rapinoe has been a leader of the USWNT for years, and her ability to strike the ball has helped her win two world cups and a FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award.

What I find amazing about all three athletes is that neither of them jumps out at you as being a superior athlete, but they have all been at the top of their sport because they know who they are, they know what they do best, and they maximize what they have been given.

One of my favorite Bible stories is the parable of talents. It can be read fully in Matthew 25:14-30. A man was preparing to go on a journey, and he trusted three of his servants with his property.

To one servant, he gave 5 talents, to another servant, he gave 2 talents, and to the third servant, he gave 1 talent. He gave to each of them the number of talents that matched their ability, and then he went away.

The person with 5 talents went at once and traded with them, and he made 5 more talents.

The person with 2 talents went and made 2 more talents.

The person with 1 talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

After a long time, the master came back and wanted to get his talents back. He received 10 talents from the first servant, 4 talents from the second servant, and he received the same, 1 talent from the third servant. He praised the first two servants for bringing him more than he gave them. He told him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter the joy of your master." He was so upset with the 3rd servant because he did nothing with the talent that he was given that he took the servant's 1 talent and gave it to the first servant who already had 10 talents.

The master then said, "For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

We all have been given something; it is our job to figure out what that something is and use it to glorify God and to make this world a better place.

Steph was told that he was too small and too slow to make it in the NBA. Tom Brady was the 199th pick in the 6th round of the 2000 NFL draft. Megan Rapinoe had to overcome two season-ending knee surgeries to make her first World Cup.

We all have our strengths to maximize, and we all have our obstacles to overcome.

This Week

1 - Identify your strengths. What are three things that you do best?

2 - Identify your obstacles. What are 1-3 things that keep you from doing what you do best?

Pray
Our Father. Thank you for the wonderful gifts and strengths that you have blessed me with. Please help me recognize those strengths, and please help me use them to serve others. In Your name I pray, amen.

For a Google doc version of this devo, click here: Week 49 | The Parable of the Talents

Be Willing To Try

If you want to be successful at anything, you have to be willing to TRY, and if you are willing to TRY something, you have to understand that there is a possibility that you will fail.

Basketball coach, Kevin Eastman, wrote, “TRYING, taking in new challenges, facing the unknown, come down to these questions:

- Is my TRY greater than my fear?
- Is my TRY greater than my doubt?
- Is my TRY greater than any embarrassment that U may suffer because I did not accomplish what I set out to do?

Accomplishing anything, overcoming any challenge, requires a start, and starting something requires a willingness to try. So, TRY always precedes start.

Coach Eastman defines TRY as a decision followed by an effort to accomplish something.

Today, next week, forever - TRY. TRY something new. TRY to show up early. TRY to stay late. TRY talking to your coach about how you can get better. TRY, TRY, and TRY again.

If you want to be successful at anything, the first step you have to take is to TRY!

References:

Eastman, Kevin, "Why The Best Are The Best." Advantage, 2018.

Driven From Within

In his book, Driven From Within, Michael Jordan wrote, "I look at these kids today, and they don't know how to trick themselves. They don't even understand the need to find a way to get yourself ready to play at the highest level every night."

Michael Jordan was the ultimate competitor, and I am always interested in how the best motivate themselves and keep themselves motivated.

I WOULD WAKE UP IN THE MORNING THINKING, "OK, HOW AM I GOING TO ATTACK TODAY?"

Michael Jordan wrote, "It was so easy for me to find ways to motivate myself. My driving force, my passion, was to impress people with what I could do. They got me through those dog days. The most important thing I learned from my father was the passion to prove what I was capable of doing. It was just that simple. I thought about that person who had never experienced the excitement or entertainment I could provide."

WHEN I DID GET ATTENTION, I WANTED TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT I DESERVED IT.

This quote reminded me of a story that former NBA star Allan Houston shared at a basketball camp years ago. He said, "You never know who is watching you. I grew up working out at a basketball court at a park by my house. I never thought anybody was watching me, but after a big game in high school, an older man came to me and said that he has been watching me work out on the basketball court for years, and I was an inspiration to him because of how hard I worked."

It can be dangerous to place your worth, value, and motivation in trying to impress other people because you can't control what impresses other people. But every time you play, it is an opportunity to prove to yourself and others what you can do. Allow that to motivate you and drive you to create a disciplined life so that when it is time to play, you are ready to perform at your best.

Michael Jordan wasn't a child icon. He came from a small town, and he said that nobody knew who he was. Many people around him and around the country were getting well-publicized, but not him. Once he did start getting recognition, there were people who thought he was too good to be true, so he was always being challenged.

Michael wrote, "I didn't get tarnished by national attention or success at a young age. I didn't experience the spoils. I always felt like I had to prove myself, one way or another. I never felt like it was enough to be noticed. That approach carried me through my entire career. That was my strength. I never lost the desire to work hard, set goals, and achieve. That never went away from me."

Stay ready so that you don't have to get ready. Don't look up one day shocked and surprised by your competition or the moment. Stay as ready as possible for your moment through the work that you do every day.

Week 48 - Finish

Isaiah Jewett was a college track star at USC and was preparing to show the world what he could do in the 800-meter race in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Jewett's goal was to finish in the top two of his semi-final heat, and when he was coming around the final turn, he was in a tight pack of runners when he felt something clip his foot.

Jewitt lost his balance, and went tumbling and rolling, in the biggest race of his life, and took out Botswanan runner Nijel Amos with him.

Devastated, Jewett scraped himself off, extended his hand to Amos, and pulled him up.

Amos said, "I'm sorry."

Jewett said, "Let's just finish the race.

Jewett and Amos FINISHED the race together, shoulder to shoulder, nearly a minute behind the winners. But they FINISHED.

Regardless of how mad you are, you have to be a hero at the end of the day," Jewett said. "That was my version of trying to be a hero, standing up and showing good character, even if it's my rival or whoever I'm racing or if anything happened. I don't want to show any bad blood, because that's what heroes do. They show their humanity through who they are."

That is a powerful message. Isaiah Jewett had every right to be upset with Amos. He trained his whole life for that moment, only for it to be taken away. But instead of being angry, he modeled what a true hero was.

At that moment, he was the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16).

This year is starting to wind down. We only have a few weeks until Christmas, and then one more before we start the new year. Trials and tribulations are sure to hit during the holiday season. They definitely hit Jewett, but he still FINISHED his race, and it is important for us to FINISH the year strong. 

Jesus told us that FINISHING strong won't always be easy. Storms will surely hit us all during this final stretch. But we have Jesus to look to and call on when the storms hit.

In Psalm 107:28-41, it was written, "Yet when they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, the Lord brought them out of their distress. He calmed the storm and its waves quieted down. So they rejoiced that the waves became quiet, and he led them to their desired haven."

In Timothy 2:4, Paul is a great example of FINISHING strong. Paul was spending his last moments of life in prison when he wrote to Timothy, encouraging him to keep his head in all situations, endure hardship, and do the work of the ministry."

Instead of laying down in his cell to die, Paul wrote some powerful and inspiring words from prison during his final days. He FINISHED his race, and he FINISHED it strong. 

Instead of laying down on the track, instead of pouting and feeling sorry for himself, and instead of placing the blame on someone else, Isaiah Jewett picked himself up, picked his opponent up, and FINISHED his race.

With only a few weeks left of 2021, make a plan to FINISH the race of this year. FINISH strong, and try to help someone else FINISH their race strong too.

Prayer
Our Father. I want to FINISH my race. I want to FINISH my race strong. I want to also inspire and motivate others to FINISH their race strong. With only a few weeks left in this year, please help lead me, guide me, and show me how to FINISH this year strong and with positive energy and momentum into the next year. In Jesus's name I pray; amen.

For a Google doc version of this devo, click here: Week 48 | FINISH

The Big Game Flu

I walked into the coach's office, and one of the football coaches was sitting at his desk with his head down. I ask him what was wrong, and he said that the 'Big Game Flu' was running through his team.

I asked him what the 'Big Game Flu' was, and he said that some seasons, when his team was having an average or below-average season without a lot of leadership and lacking in grit, many of his players would end up hurt when they would play the top teams in their district, only to be healthy the next week against a weaker opponent. Their coaching staff, noticing this trend happening the week of the big game, started calling this phenomenon the 'Big Game Flu.'

He said that the 'Big Game Flu' doesn't run through their team every year. The years where they have strong leadership, when their athletes are mentally tough and have grit, and when he has athletes who truly love to play the game and play with and for each other, the big game weeks are the best weeks.

But seasons and teams like they have right now are tough, and when it gets tough with groups like he has right now, the 'Big Game Flu' strikes fast, strong, and hard.

The craziest thing about this year's group is that they have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs. They could lose the big game and still make it in, but that doesn't stop the 'Big Game Flu' from destroying the team's morale this year.

How do we prevent or stop the 'Big Game Flu' from happening? I am not sure; especially at the high school level. By the time our kids get 14 or 15, many of their mindsets are already so deeply established that they are hard to change. How do you make a kid tougher? How do you make a kid grittier? How do you make a kid love the game more?

When someone can figure those things out, they should be able to bottle it up and write a few bestsellers that could change the world. Until then, we have to focus on creating the best cultures and environments possible that focus on growth mindset and connection.

Growth Mindset is the idea that we all have the ability to learn, grow and do hard things with practice over time. The leader of the growth mindset movement, Carol Dweck, has said that we can increase character traits, like grit, through awareness, teaching, and timely feedback. Her studies have shown that people of all ages can learn how to overcome the 'Big Game Flu,' and other hurtful habits and illness.

Don't Judge, Teach
To prevent the 'Big Game Flu' and similar illnesses, we have to teach, not judge. Athletes with a fixed mindset, a mindset where they think they are who they are and that they can't get any better, feel like their traits are being measured and judged all the time. Instead of judging, teach. Treat everything like it is a learning process. It is okay to get the 'Big Game Flu.' Many people get the 'Big Game Flu.' Don't judge anyone for getting the 'Big Game Flu.' Teach them how to prevent it and overcome it. Help them learn better skills for getting over the 'Big Game Flu' like understanding that one game is just one game, and the lessons and experiences from that game can be used for the rest of their lives. 

Of course, we want to win games; but more importantly - we want to win in life by helping our athletes become great people. Becoming a great person requires learning that the 'Big Game Flu' is real and okay, but also teaching how to overcome the 'Big Game Flu.'

The great teachers believe in the growth of intellect and talent of all of their students, and they are fascinated with the process of learning.

Create the Right Environment
Carol Dweck says that great teachers set high standards for all their students. They establish, on Day One, an atmosphere of high expectations and genuine affection and concern. We won't love everyone we coach, but we must care about everyone we coach and believe in their ability to learn and grow. They put their athletes in the frame of mind where they can do their best. 

Few coaches can actually get their athletes to their ultimate potential by challenging their athletes while making sure that they feel cared about. That is why the 'Big Game Flu' sweeps through so many teams. Growth-minded coaches tell the truth and their athletes are able to receive it because they know their coaches care and because the coaches give them the tools needed to close gaps and grow.

Full Preparation and Full Effort
Success comes when we apply ourselves each day to becoming a little better. When you apply yourself to become a little better every day, over a period of time, you will become a lot better. There is no such thing as a mistake-free game. When we expect mistake-free games and judge our players off of their mistakes, it can create a toxic environment where the 'Big Game Flu' loves to live. 

Be tough and demanding. Have high expectations and hold people accountable. Do not tolerate less than their best. But making it about love and effort knowing that mistakes and losing is a part of life can help keep the 'Big Game Flu' away from your locker room.

Love What You Do
The best thing that you can do for anybody is to be a good example. Love who you are, love what you do, and love who you do it with. You won't always like everything about yourself, what you do, and who you do it with, but love is deeper than like.

The human experience is full of trials and tribulations that we have to learn how to navigate and overcome, but with a growth mindset, with time, and with effort, we can learn to live with and through love. That love is contagious. If we don't love it, it will be hard for them to love it. We have to model the love and actions that we want to see from our athletes. Be the example that you want to see by showing up every day, no matter the circumstances, with love, energy, and enthusiasm.