Just Call Me Coach

Sports have been part of my life forever. I used to be a gamer, who was ready to play anywhere; anytime. I remember with absolute clarity the day I hung up my softball glove so that I could coach my daughter's soccer team. It was a dark day. As much as I loved my girls, it was tough to admit my life was going in a new direction.

Who knew coaching would be so fun? Basketball & softball were easy, but to be honest, I barely knew the rules of soccer when I started. I'd never heard of a "yellow card" until I got one my third game for going on the field to help the opposing goalie who was in tears after being scored on. The ref almost gave me a "red card" for asking what a "yellow card" was. (He definitely would have kicked me out if he knew what I thought about his stupid "yellow card" for helping a crying kid.) I figured out coaches didn't have to know everything, just a thing or two more than their players.

I also learned what winning was about. What's the point in beating your opponent? These were games, not battlefields. It should be fun. So, I shifted my attention to teaching them to love the game, to work as a team, to enjoy the moment, to laugh when they messed up, and to eat ice cream afterward no matter what the score.

Somewhere along the line my focus shifted from the game to the individual girls on my teams. Where did they need to grow? What would be a victory for them? How could I make them smile? Watching a player leave the court with an I-did-it-coach look in their eye was worth it all.

Once my own girls got older, my role changed again to cheerleader from the stands. I was warned in no uncertain terms not to embarrass them publicly, yet privately I did my best coaching one-on-one amidst their frustration, disappointment and tears.

It occurred to me recently that my job as a Christian is really just to be a coach. There are lots of things that happen at our church. It's all good stuff, and some folks really get into it. I could spend all my time trying to win that game, but then I wouldn't be a very good coach. My job is to empower people. To prepare them for what goes on outside the walls of church. To help them fulfill their personal calling & purpose in life. To witness that I-did-it-coach look when they engage in the lives of others.

That's a pretty big shift for a gamer like me, ...but I'm loving it. It is so much more fulfilling to invest my time coaching people instead of maintaining an organization. My dream is a church that has an impact in its community. I want to make a dent somewhere. I could never do that on my own, even if I was a superstar. But if you and I could become better coaches, leading people into a life changing relationship with Jesus, we would form an unbeatable team.

I'm proud of my new title, even though I only know a thing or two more than those around me. It's a role all of us should aspire to. Just call me coach.

Flying Pig Update: I'm right on target with my training schedule, although it is getting harder to work in the longer walks each week (2-4 hrs). Got a chance to walk outside last week & it was so freeing. Going to drive the actual race course to get a feel for what I'm getting myself into. Total Training to Date: 133 miles