Friday, January 26, 2007
I love my job!
Blogging has been light of late, as track season began Monday. That means two things in my world: first, that I'll work late every day (and therefore have less free time at home for such things as blogging), and second, that I'll be exhausted for a week or two from the physical effort of coaching. I don't run every step with the kids anymore, but the parts I do participate in are demanding (and become more so as I crowd the big 4-0). But even though the weather this past week has not cooperated (it tends to drop about 20 degrees between the start and finish of practice every day, which is really unpleasant for sprinters), I am reminded again what a blessing it is to do something for a living about which one is passionate. On Tuesday, possibly the best athlete in the school barfed up a lung because he wanted to excel (and impress ME) so badly. The end of most of our workouts looks like Jim Jones has been passing out kool-aid, with bodies strewn all over and various groans of agony sounding from the heaps of steaming flesh. Yet these kids are all there on purpose, giving 100%, in pursuit of a goal months away. For some it's a time goal--under 5 minutes in the mile, or maybe even under 8. For others, it's a school record or a state title. For others (like it was for me in '84), it's "nerd rehab"--striving to find a niche as an athlete in an environment where there are no cuts, no bench, and no ball. But in all cases, this is one area of teaching where no one doubts the correlation between effort and outcome. The outcomes are by no means guaranteed, but the striving is what it's all about. If I won the lottery, I'd still coach. (Of course, if I won the lottery, I'd do my winter coaching in a brand-new indoor practice facilty. Oh, well...)
Sunday, January 21, 2007
What a Weekend!
This morning, a mirror in our master bedroom fell to the floor and shattered into a zillion pieces. Superstition says that should bring 7 years of bad luck. Apparently that superstition is false; it's been one of the best weekends ever. Friday night our oldest son debuted in the middle school version of "The Music Man" as Marcellus, the sidekick to Professor Howard Hill. It was great. Then Friday morning I had to trek to Lexington for a PBC program team meeting. To do that, I had to beg off from my usual duties coaching Saturday Morning Basketball--this week, my team played our middle son, Jacob's team. On the way up the interstate, the phone rings--Jacob's team has won, and he has scored his first-ever basket. As soon as the meeting was over, I booked it back down the highway to the gym , arriving 30 seconds before tipoff of David's bantam game. He played well, and scored. Then, a quick shower and back to the auditorium for the second show of the play, followed by the cast party (which, incidentally, was the first meal I got all day). Then this morning it was off to church, where the weekend moved from merely awesome to unforgettable: Jacob was baptized following morning services! The fact that I got lunch at Fazoli's, a much-needed nap, and now an afternoon of playoff football is just icing on the cake. It's weekends like this that remind me how awesome parenthood really is--I'm so proud of both my boys, I could burst my buttons!
Ordering Your Private World, Week 3
Chapter 3: Caught in A Golden Cage
“In an explanation of the inner sphere of the person, one has to begin somewhere, and I have chosen to begin where Christ appears to have begun—with the distinction between the called and the driven. …He dealt with their motives, the basis of their spiritual energy, and the sorts of gratification in which they were interested. He called those who were drawn to Him and avoided those who were driven and wanted to use Him.” (p. 29)
“There are lots of driven people doing very good things. Driven people are not necessarily bad folk, although the consequences of their drivenness may produce unfortunate results.” (p. 31)
Symptoms of The “Driven” Person (p. 31-36):
A driven person is most often gratified only by accomplishment. (can be seen in constant “multi-tasking” and a concern for the results over the process)
A driven person is preoccupied with the symbols of accomplishment (status, titles, notoriety)
A driven person is usually caught in the uncontrolled pursuit of expansion. (Can be true even in a spiritual sense; never satisfied with self, others, church)
Driven people tend to have little regard for integrity (pragmatic, end justifies the means)
Driven people often possess limited or undeveloped people skills (a “trail of bodies” in their wake)
Driven people tend to be highly competitive (everything is winning and losing)
A driven person often possesses a volcanic force of anger (not just physical, but verbal)
Driven people are abnormally busy.
“…much of our world is run by driven people. We have created a system that rides on their backs. And where that is true in businesses, in churches, and in homes, the growth of people is often sacrificed for accomplishment and accumulation.” (p. 36)
The Biblical Example of A “Driven” Man: Saul
1 Samuel 9:1-2 (NLT)
Kish was a rich, influential man from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel and grandson of Zeror, from the family of Becorath and the clan of Aphiah. [2] His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.
“In an explanation of the inner sphere of the person, one has to begin somewhere, and I have chosen to begin where Christ appears to have begun—with the distinction between the called and the driven. …He dealt with their motives, the basis of their spiritual energy, and the sorts of gratification in which they were interested. He called those who were drawn to Him and avoided those who were driven and wanted to use Him.” (p. 29)
“There are lots of driven people doing very good things. Driven people are not necessarily bad folk, although the consequences of their drivenness may produce unfortunate results.” (p. 31)
Symptoms of The “Driven” Person (p. 31-36):
A driven person is most often gratified only by accomplishment. (can be seen in constant “multi-tasking” and a concern for the results over the process)
A driven person is preoccupied with the symbols of accomplishment (status, titles, notoriety)
A driven person is usually caught in the uncontrolled pursuit of expansion. (Can be true even in a spiritual sense; never satisfied with self, others, church)
Driven people tend to have little regard for integrity (pragmatic, end justifies the means)
Driven people often possess limited or undeveloped people skills (a “trail of bodies” in their wake)
Driven people tend to be highly competitive (everything is winning and losing)
A driven person often possesses a volcanic force of anger (not just physical, but verbal)
Driven people are abnormally busy.
“…much of our world is run by driven people. We have created a system that rides on their backs. And where that is true in businesses, in churches, and in homes, the growth of people is often sacrificed for accomplishment and accumulation.” (p. 36)
The Biblical Example of A “Driven” Man: Saul
1 Samuel 9:1-2 (NLT)
Kish was a rich, influential man from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel and grandson of Zeror, from the family of Becorath and the clan of Aphiah. [2] His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Reality
What a week! It's hard to believe, but even with Monday off, I still could have gotten overtime this week... if, of course, I got overtime. So, limited (OK, non-existent) blogging of late. On the good news front, middle school play practice is over (performances tonight and tomorrow), so David gets his life back. On the other end of the spectrum, I start track season Monday, so it's out of the frying pan and into the fire, as far as long hours go. Still, things could be much worse. While on lunch duty today (and today was my LAST day of duty for the school year!! Whoopee!!), I made not one, not two, but three calls to people in the hospital:
First, my grandmama, doing very well, thanks, after brain surgery.
Second, my assistant track coach, who blew out his knee a day or two ago (did I mention that we start the season Monday? Oh, well.)
And third, a rival track coach who just had cancer surgery. He is a hall-of-fame coach who has handed me my head in the last eight state championships. I wish him a speedy recovery in the hopes that he can live long enough that one day I can beat him, fair and square.
So, it's even worse crazy for lots of folks. Maybe some pics tomorrow of the play. Best to all the PBC readers... see you tomorrow at Lexington!
First, my grandmama, doing very well, thanks, after brain surgery.
Second, my assistant track coach, who blew out his knee a day or two ago (did I mention that we start the season Monday? Oh, well.)
And third, a rival track coach who just had cancer surgery. He is a hall-of-fame coach who has handed me my head in the last eight state championships. I wish him a speedy recovery in the hopes that he can live long enough that one day I can beat him, fair and square.
So, it's even worse crazy for lots of folks. Maybe some pics tomorrow of the play. Best to all the PBC readers... see you tomorrow at Lexington!
Monday, January 15, 2007
MLK Day Trivia, and thoughts
We're off today, for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. Did you know that MLK is one of only four people who have a federal holiday named after them? Trivia for today--name the other three. I'll post the answers later in this blog post.
I'm a big fan of Dr. King. My family had the opportunity to visit the Lorraine Motel, site of the National Civil Rights Museum, on a trip two summers ago. It is sobering to see the balcony where he died. The inscription in front of the room is a quote from Genesis 37 (the story of Joseph): "And they said, here cometh the dreamer; let us slay him, and we shall see what becomes of his dreams." One of the most exciting things about this holiday for me is to reflect on how progress toward Dr. King's dream has come in the past 39 years. Although we are still far from perfect (and in this fallen world, we'll never get all the way past our prejudices, I fear), I can see in the attitudes of my 7th grade students toward my lessons on the Civil Rights Movement that gradually, generation by generation, we are drawing closer and closer to the color-blind society that Dr. King envisioned. My great-grandfather witnessed slavery. My grandfather lived through Jim Crow. My father went to one of the last segregated high school classes in our state, and lived through the Movement. I personally am still AWARE of race, but almost as an afterthought--and even that awareness is something of an embarassment to me. But my children (and my students, who are the same age) seem to not even notice race, and they treat my lessons on the Movement as if they took place in the ancient world. I keep hoping that their generation will be the one that fully achieves the dream. One thing is for sure--we're closer than we have ever been.
Have you guessed the trivia answer yet? The other three are Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day, and Christmas Day. Most folks I have asked this question have hung up on Jesus--something about three figures from US History and one from 2000 years ago makes it tougher. But Dr. King is in very good company. Have a great day off!
I'm a big fan of Dr. King. My family had the opportunity to visit the Lorraine Motel, site of the National Civil Rights Museum, on a trip two summers ago. It is sobering to see the balcony where he died. The inscription in front of the room is a quote from Genesis 37 (the story of Joseph): "And they said, here cometh the dreamer; let us slay him, and we shall see what becomes of his dreams." One of the most exciting things about this holiday for me is to reflect on how progress toward Dr. King's dream has come in the past 39 years. Although we are still far from perfect (and in this fallen world, we'll never get all the way past our prejudices, I fear), I can see in the attitudes of my 7th grade students toward my lessons on the Civil Rights Movement that gradually, generation by generation, we are drawing closer and closer to the color-blind society that Dr. King envisioned. My great-grandfather witnessed slavery. My grandfather lived through Jim Crow. My father went to one of the last segregated high school classes in our state, and lived through the Movement. I personally am still AWARE of race, but almost as an afterthought--and even that awareness is something of an embarassment to me. But my children (and my students, who are the same age) seem to not even notice race, and they treat my lessons on the Movement as if they took place in the ancient world. I keep hoping that their generation will be the one that fully achieves the dream. One thing is for sure--we're closer than we have ever been.
Have you guessed the trivia answer yet? The other three are Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day, and Christmas Day. Most folks I have asked this question have hung up on Jesus--something about three figures from US History and one from 2000 years ago makes it tougher. But Dr. King is in very good company. Have a great day off!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Ordering Your Private World, Week Two
For the second week, I'm just posting the notes I prepared for class on OYPW. Feel free to join in with your thoughts.
Chapter 1: The Sinkhole Syndrome
Our private world is a source of strength and stability, especially under pressure. If neglected, it will not have the strength to hold everything else up. Yet we can come to realize that we have spent “the majority of [our] time and energy establishing life on the visible level, at the surface.” (p. 14)
“Our public worlds are filled with a seeming infinity of demands upon our time, our loyalties, our money, and our energies. And because these public worlds of ours are so visible, so real, we have to struggle to ignore all their seductions and demands. They scream for our attention and action. The result is that our private world is often cheated, neglected because it does not shout quite so loudly. It can be effectively ignored for long periods of time before it gives way to a sinkhole-like cave-in.” (p. 15)
“One of the great battlegrounds of our age is the private world of the individual. There is a contest that must be fought particularly by those who call themselves practicing Christians. Among them are those who work hard, shouldering massive responsibilities at home, at work, and at church. They are good people, but they are very, very tired! …We are naively inclined to believe that the most publicly active person is also the most privately spiritual… Because we tend to think like this, there is the temptation to give imbalanced attention to our public worlds at the expense of the private.” (p. 15-16)
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, [15] the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. [16] I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. [17] And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. [18] And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. [19] May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
[20] Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. [21] May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.
Chapter 2: The View From the Bridge
Proverbs 4:23 (NASB)
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
“What I call the ‘bridge,’ he [Solomon] calls the ‘heart.’ He sees the heart as a spring, and out of it can flow the energy, the insight, and the force that do not succumb to outer turbulence, but rather overcome it. …But what does it mean to ‘keep’ the heart? For one thing, the writer is obviously concerned that the heart be protected from influences outside itself that might jeopardize its integrity. …keeping or guarding the heart, the ‘bridge’ of human life, is a deliberate and disciplined choice a man or woman must make.” (p. 23-24)
Romans 12:2 (NASB)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Chapter 1: The Sinkhole Syndrome
Our private world is a source of strength and stability, especially under pressure. If neglected, it will not have the strength to hold everything else up. Yet we can come to realize that we have spent “the majority of [our] time and energy establishing life on the visible level, at the surface.” (p. 14)
“Our public worlds are filled with a seeming infinity of demands upon our time, our loyalties, our money, and our energies. And because these public worlds of ours are so visible, so real, we have to struggle to ignore all their seductions and demands. They scream for our attention and action. The result is that our private world is often cheated, neglected because it does not shout quite so loudly. It can be effectively ignored for long periods of time before it gives way to a sinkhole-like cave-in.” (p. 15)
“One of the great battlegrounds of our age is the private world of the individual. There is a contest that must be fought particularly by those who call themselves practicing Christians. Among them are those who work hard, shouldering massive responsibilities at home, at work, and at church. They are good people, but they are very, very tired! …We are naively inclined to believe that the most publicly active person is also the most privately spiritual… Because we tend to think like this, there is the temptation to give imbalanced attention to our public worlds at the expense of the private.” (p. 15-16)
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, [15] the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. [16] I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. [17] And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. [18] And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. [19] May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
[20] Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. [21] May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.
Chapter 2: The View From the Bridge
Proverbs 4:23 (NASB)
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
“What I call the ‘bridge,’ he [Solomon] calls the ‘heart.’ He sees the heart as a spring, and out of it can flow the energy, the insight, and the force that do not succumb to outer turbulence, but rather overcome it. …But what does it mean to ‘keep’ the heart? For one thing, the writer is obviously concerned that the heart be protected from influences outside itself that might jeopardize its integrity. …keeping or guarding the heart, the ‘bridge’ of human life, is a deliberate and disciplined choice a man or woman must make.” (p. 23-24)
Romans 12:2 (NASB)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Monster Truck Jam
Last night, I attended my first-ever "Monster Truck Jam." I don't think it's the beginning of a trend. It was my nephew's birthday, and he had seen the commercials and wanted to go, so my boys and I went. The "monster trucks" are basically a chevy truck shell perched atop a giant chassis and 4 huge tires, pretty much a decorated go-cart with a huge engine. The trucks line up in front of a row of junked cars, rev the giant engines, then speed forward, crush the cars, and sometimes go airborne for a second. Then they back up, line up, and do it again. Judges rank which one did the best. For this, 10,000 people sat in traffic. Apparently there is a whole subculture of people who follow this "sport." At dinner, there were tons of people wearing t-shirts advertising the "Grave Digger" truck, which I guess is a superstar of the monster circuit; they were shooting t-shirts into the crowd throughout the show, but I can't say I would have risked life or limb to get one... somehow I just don't see myself as being on the front end of that particular fashion trend.
It was amazing to me how large and diverse the crowd was. Of course, there were an abundance of mullet haircuts and folks who looked like they would fall into the "them thar's big 'ol trucks" demographic--but there were huge numbers of just regular people: families, college kids, more men than women, but a genuinely broad spectrum. I had no idea this stuff was so popular!
The highlight of the night was "Draco the Dragonator," a jerry-rigged green backhoe decorated with scales, wings, glowing red eyes, and the ability to "breathe" fire. They rolled this thing out and it "ate" a compact car, to the delight of all the little boys (present company included) in the crowd. I'm pretty sure that in the next 24 hours there will be a similar device in my home made of legos.
The low point--being reminded again that even among rednecks, I'm a redneck. As we waited and waited and waited for traffic to clear up, I watched the Sal-mobile heat up, gradually reaching the point where idiot lights began to flash. Luckily, we rolled on and it cooled off, but you have to admit--sitting with your hood up, pouring steam, while traffic backs up behind you at the monster truck jam--that's a Jeff Foxworthy special waiting to happen.
It was amazing to me how large and diverse the crowd was. Of course, there were an abundance of mullet haircuts and folks who looked like they would fall into the "them thar's big 'ol trucks" demographic--but there were huge numbers of just regular people: families, college kids, more men than women, but a genuinely broad spectrum. I had no idea this stuff was so popular!
The highlight of the night was "Draco the Dragonator," a jerry-rigged green backhoe decorated with scales, wings, glowing red eyes, and the ability to "breathe" fire. They rolled this thing out and it "ate" a compact car, to the delight of all the little boys (present company included) in the crowd. I'm pretty sure that in the next 24 hours there will be a similar device in my home made of legos.
The low point--being reminded again that even among rednecks, I'm a redneck. As we waited and waited and waited for traffic to clear up, I watched the Sal-mobile heat up, gradually reaching the point where idiot lights began to flash. Luckily, we rolled on and it cooled off, but you have to admit--sitting with your hood up, pouring steam, while traffic backs up behind you at the monster truck jam--that's a Jeff Foxworthy special waiting to happen.
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