Archive for Random Musings
Jimmy Chitwood Style
Posted by: | CommentsIn thinking about doing some semi-consistent blogging again, I can’t help but think of the best scene from one of my all-time favorite movies, Hoosiers.
I know you have seen it. If not, stop what you are doing and watch it right now. It’s a classic. And though I have seen it countless times, I still tend to get chills every single time Jimmy Chitwood walks into the church and gives his little speech to the community. “I think it’s about time I start playing some ball.” To which the community responds with cheers because they think he is only going to play because Coach Norman Dale is headed out. But then, as the cheers die down, Jimmy turns it on him and says, “Just one thing, I play, Coach stays. He goes, I go.” Everyone is hushed. The bitter ex-assistant coach gives a gulp. The old Mom calls out for a revote (“I say we have a revote”). The vote for Coach to stay is now overwhelming. Everyone starts shaking hands with him, then the music starts playing and you know they are going to win it all.
Man I love that movie. I might need to take a break and watch it right now. At least that scene. But of course, if I watch that scene, I am going to watch the rest. Or I am going to head back to the beginning, so I can enjoy the build up to that scene. Or I could not do any of those things and make my point.
My point? Well, “I think it’s bout time I start doing some blogging.”
I know there must be a deep hush in the blogging world in response to that. Or I suppose there could be a few folks calling me to reconsider! Well, either way, it’s time for me to do some writing again, no matter who may or may not be listening. After a long fall with a change in countries and the beginning of a busy season, I have managed to settle in. My email inbox is clear (don’t ask about the next action folder), and I have seen enough Tim Tebow to have to write a blog post about him. Not really (but I am sure I will write that post). But there is always plenty to say.
So get the Hoosiers music rolling. Or don’t. I think it’s about time I start doing some blogging.
See you soon (for real).
Watch and Think
Posted by: | CommentsThis doesn’t have any real direct correlation to sports and competition in Christian perspective, but I would like to ask you to watch and compare two videos today. The first is the new iPad video. The second is documentary-type footage of the Kimyal people receiving the first batch of complete New Testaments in their language.
I watched the first today, because I am looking forward to purchasing an iPad at some point in the near future. And though I love Apple’s products, I think their videos are usually ridiculous. For they tend to talk about their new products as if they were much more important than they really are (even if they are crazy cool). As Erin said today, “The way some of those guys were talking with the music in the background, you would think they had just cured cancer.” I agree. It might be good for marketing, but it is downright ridiculous, and we are all too-easily sucked in.
So check out the iPad video. Here is the link (couldn’t find a way to embed it here, though after viewing their video, I am sure I would have been able to do it if I had a new iPad 2). After checking that video out, press play on the video below in order to gain some perspective and to ask yourself how well you are valuing the things that really last. Hope it proves as fruitful as it was for me.
The Kimyal People Receive the New Testament from UFM Worldwide on Vimeo.
HT: Vitamin Z for the video and Married to a Baller for the basic thought that led to this blog post.
In Pursuit of True Greatness
Posted by: | CommentsWright Thompson’s ESPN article on Vince Lombardi is a good one. Told through the tale of his Green Bay home, Thompson does a good job capturing him in limited space. Much of what he said reminded me of what I learned from HBO’s documentary, Lombardi.
If you haven’t seen the documentary, I highly recommend it. HBO did a great job capturing Lombardi in all his strength and weakness. And boy were there weaknesses. No doubt he was a great football coach, but in his own admission, he was not a great husband and father. As many of you may know, Lombardi was famous for saying his priorities were God, family, and football (in particular Green Bay Packers’ football). And no doubt those three things were closest to his heart. But when you really learn about him, it becomes obvious that football took first place.
His story is a sad one really. No doubt he won five championships and is remembered fondly in football circles. But those five championships cost his family a great deal of happiness and maybe even in a sense cost him his life (he died at 57). Either way, what is even more sad is that his story is far from unique. For no matter what one’s walk of life may be, when one is consumed with greatness in one area of life, the other areas of life cannot help but suffer. And when those areas of life are ones that should be among the most important, well, that is sad. Very sad indeed.
In this respect, I believe it is wise for us to recognize that although the Lord wants us to pursue greatness in certain endeavors, it is oftentimes unwise to actually become as great as you can possibly be. For it cannot be denied that in order to become the absolute best you can possibly be, you must make sacrifices. But more times than not, those sacrifices are not worth the cost. Family, friends, a life that honors the Lord and has time for others. These are vital. To deny them in order to become the best player I can possibly be or one day, the best coach I can possibly be at the highest of levels…well, long-term, it just doesn’t make sense.
That being said, I do believe there is often a way to do both. At least to a certain extent. And whatever that extent is, well, that is what we should be pursuing. In whatever our walks of life. And I really do mean whatever our walks of life. For there are plenty of pastors who make the same mistake as Lombardi. So also businessmen or teachers or whoever. We are all in danger, so we are wise to be alert, on our guard, always praying for wisdom and looking to the only One who defines what really matters in the end.
The Danger of Calling Anyone to Humility
Posted by: | CommentsAfter his behavior this past Sunday, it seems safe to say that Vince Young is desperate to learn the same lessons on humility and self-control that Michael Vick and Maurice Clarett have seemed to learn. Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN agrees.
There is something, however, that Wojciechowski and anyone else following or commenting on these stories better be careful about, namely, talking about these guys as if humility and self-control are easy to come by.
The reason I say this is because if each one of us were to walk the path they have traveled, we too would struggle immensely with humility of heart. If we don’t think so, all we do is show how proud we really are. Imagine coming from little or nothing to being catered to and told how great you are for the bulk of your young adult existence. Imagine success coming too easy and too quick, accompanied by millions of dollars and national fame. Do you honestly think you would be any better than Young, Vick, and Clarett? If anything, we would often be worse.
The interesting thing about pride is that the obvious pride of others often serves to readily expose our own. Commentators of all kinds beware. If you want to call someone to humility, you better do so with some humility of your own. When it comes to commenting on the sins of others, we are wise to look deep into the mirror first. For only then can we help the ones we comment on, the ones we comment to, and benefit from the commentary ourselves.
Indeed, as I write these words, I realize that they are first and foremost for me.
Sports, Competition, and Christianity
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s time for this blog to have a greater focus. And the three words above will serve as my subtitle and summary for what I am going to focus upon.
I have realized as of late that much of my inconsistency in blogging is due to my lack of focus. Though it is fun to write about whatever you want, it oftentimes doesn’t help you blog consistently and quite possibly, serve others as well as I would like.
So let this mark the day that I get focused upon what I know best in hopes that it serves others better, while teaching me more as well. A new banner will be coming along with some general changes to the site. But most of all, I will focus on sports and competition from a Christian perspective. I trust it will help me blog a bit more effectively and more consistently. Only time will tell.
