Tag Archives: life

To that I can attest.

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Whatever your station in life, wherever you are, you can be sure, “tests” will abound.

Perhaps it is a test in a more literal sense; the final exam you once took in algebra, the physical you have been putting off for years, an ACT that could help you get into college.

Maybe it is a test that is more of a personal challenge, something you have always been meaning to accomplish; like getting back into shape, eating better, reading more, or being less distracted at home.

There could be new demands you face in a professional sense; the need to develop some new habits, learning to work smarter, improving your level of performance or responding to an ultimatum.

Regardless of the situation, you can be assured that you will need to take these “tests”.

In reality, they are and always will be an opportunity for growth and improvement. Taking these “tests” will ultimately  help you to become the best version of yourself; the person you were always meant to be. While they may appear at random,  their occurrence should never be misconstrued as an “if” proposition. You can always count on all  “tests” to be a “when event.”

Assuming that these “tests” are something that is sure to happen, what would you make of a seemingly recurring test? A repetitious series of challenges, somewhat similar in content and scope,  that keeps happening over and over and over?

Perhaps it is some ” test” that appears to shadow  certain aspects of your life.

Could it be that there is something bigger going on?

Is a deeper – or even different – message being transmitted to you?

Are you somehow missing the essence of the lesson? What could it mean if you seem to find yourself in the same predicament more than a couple of times? More to the point, is there something you are doing that is actually putting  yourself into those same set of circumstances?

Perhaps on the initial go around, there was something lacking in your judgement – or – your initial response was inadequate. Maybe you simply erred in assessing both the challenge and what the actual message was that was being sent.

Did you ask all of the right questions – of others – and of yourself?

Is there room for some deeper reflection and a more honest self assessment?

Without total transparency from without as well as from within, you can never be really sure of what you are actually being shown.  Sure, you can adjust the ambient light, change the background a little, put on the shades or  simply squint. While these maneuvers may temporarily change one’s perception of reality, the image looking back at you from the mirror is what it is.  Leopards don’t change their spots – and you are who you are.

Taking some more personal time to assess and pursue some additional reflection, make some personal adjustments and commit yourself to following a “plan” might forestall the outcome. But if you fail to be true, the pattern will begin again and that same “test” will return.

So, should you simply chalk it up to life and gird yourself for the next time? Or, could this be representative of the fact that you keep choosing to miss out on the real opportunity? Sometimes, you can look right at something and still not see it; as plain as the nose on your face.  Vision means more than just seeing.

If you can accept the idea that we are all meant to be a truly extraordinary version of ourselves, perhaps it isn’t too much of a stretch to consider that our ultimate purpose will need to somehow mesh with that as well.

You can spend a lifetime traveling and never get to where you are meant to go.

Keep missing that exit sign, and you simply keep moving down the same road.

To that I can attest.

Thank you Coach Strode.

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I attended a celebration of life for my head football coach in high school, Gene Strode.

The stories shared by his children and friends still swells my heart. He was such a great father, husband, coach and man. He cast a living and lifelong impression on thousands.

It is fitting that he returned to farming upon his retirement.

I say that because he spent his entire career planting the seeds of potential, performance and passion within his players, assistants, kids, friends and community. He could see in others what they could not yet see in themselves, until they blossomed. And being the farmer that he was, he nurtured a continuing, healthy and prolific growth throughout the season of his life.

He was careful to eradicate the weeds we grew by acting out of character. Minimized the manure we told ourselves and tried to sell others. Watered us just right with praise, affirmation and discipline.

He radiated genuine, fatherly guidance and love to all that came his way. That is what made us grow so upright and strong. To this day, and to a lasting extent, we are who we are because we were all raised the same way by Coach.

A farmer of men.

Even though it has been close to fifty years, I could still feel all of that and then some when me and some of my teammates huddled this past Sunday. We did some truly great things together. Cause he saw it in us.

Then cube that sensation when all of us huddled together, as one, for Coach.

Every fall, he grew us to be his bumper crop.

And every fall since, there hasn’t been a season gone by that I don’t feel his presence in my life. Whether it is the weeding, an awareness of an overabundance of fertilizer, or his way of watering us for growth, his radiance remains.

Now I get to walk those fields too.

For he taught me to be a farmer.

My true vocation.

Thank you Coach Strode.

Ineinander.

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Over time, I have come to a better understanding about this game.  

To me, it  is a mission that needs to be centered upon developing the individual that resides within the player. One capable of true authenticity and selflessness, girded by a faith in what can ultimately be accomplished together in true fellowship.

The student of life within the athlete. 

Only then can all facets of the individual act to positively impact the athlete. 

Class is not held solely on the field or the weight room.  It is in the right here and now, with each other.  Together you get to learn, grow and develop in ways many others cannot or will never be able to in their entire lives. 

But by no means does that place you above anyone.  

It is purely a gift to be embraced as such, and held with  an attitude of gratitude.

Within this gift is the opportunity to create and build something much bigger than yourself.  

By yourself, I take that as two iterations. First, you as an individual get to.  And then, you together as a team gets to. The makings of a genuine  fellowship.   

As such, you get to be a part of many, many lives and families, embrace diverse backgrounds and cultures all while  building true  friendships that can literally last a lifetime. 

You get to represent a heralded college and every player that first strapped it on as a Green Knight in 1931 –  as well as  everyone that ever attended as a student, taught as a professor or administered to the needs of operating a  college. 

If you can open yourself up fully and honestly to see this as such, that you get to be a part of this, then you will be in a position to fully invest yourself in making the most of it.  

All of which is contingent on how much you are willing to open yourself up,  draw others in close to one another and then grow together. For some, this will be a task ten-fold more challenging than two-a-days. I get it.  But like two-a-days, it is meant to be a test. Determined to  reveal something you never thought was in you.  I can assure you,  from experience, there is strength to be found in vulnerability. And when all is said and done, you will wonder what took you so long to just let it happen.   

Some time ago, I happened upon a  German adverb that defines this level of connection perfectly. 

Ineinander.

Meaning “into each other, into one another. Or, interlocking.” To me, it is choosing to become woven together.  Creating something together that has the ability to withstand all of the tension, twists and turns of all adversity while remaining unified, unfrayed and unbreakable. 

In preparation for sharing this gift with all of you, I collaborated with a teammate of yours.  We talked some and came up with some thoughts and reflections about what we all need to be able to be.  What we need to ask of ourselves and each other, in an honest and transparent manner. 

I hope I don’t let you down with what is to follow, buddy.

So after some contemplation about what he and I shared and my presence within the game these many years, I arrived at four tenets of development that I believe will serve us all well. 

So for our time remaining now, it is going to be more so about opening up and revealing some holes than it is about  x’s and o’s.  

So take advantage of the opportunities to reflect. 

 This is just the start in many respects. 

I sincerely hope there will be more beginnings than endings as you continue on this journey forward together.

Ineinander.

Fields meant to be pursued. 

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Within the framework of the game was an especially compelling element. One that genuinely permeated to my very core:  

A passion for what it demanded of and from you, only to return it in a higher form. 

True, it did extract from you. Often to the point of emptiness. But at the same token,  it replenished you, on a deeply personal, emotional, mental and spiritual level.  You see, being on the field gave back ten fold of what it took, in an unparalleled manner. 

Yes, it was a game. But it proved to be so much more than that. Each opportunity granted, lesson learned and affirmation supplied possessed a gravity all their own. 

Like becoming one who gladly accepts the weight of a moment being granted. 

Shunning the spotlight. 

Leaving it all out there for those on your left or right. 

Embracing your failure in the instant  before as impetus for your success in that  yet to come.  

Valuing a level of perseverance garnered by enduring exhaustingly hard and painful work.  

Appreciating your role as one who paves the way so that others might succeed.

As time passed, I became increasingly aware of these and many more of the gifts granted during those precious moments on the field. They  became more apparent as they weaved themselves into the fabric of a life away from it.  Confirming the veracity of their mass in most substantial and lasting fashions. 

Such as accepting and engaging the weight of every responsibility in all manner and form, arriving on their time, yet touching every aspect of your being.  

Discovering the value of humility through promoting others. 

Freely giving of oneself without any expectation or desire of return. 

Knowing that there is much to be learned in defeat – whether personal or professional – and that  your response to that event  will eventually lead you back to the outcome you desire; victory. 

Mustering oneself to embrace personal sacrifice and persevere, regardless of the cost, to improve, grow and become what you are meant to be. 

Providing empathy, care, attention and love that will ensure the safety, security and success of those all around.

It has been said that football is the game of life.  A statement of fact to which many will attest.  

It is taught in numerous, lasting and most compelling fashions – particularly at my spot on the field.  Lessons that continue to emerge from that original classroom, bound to its core curriculum, taught on a field that is now being professed in the home, at work, in the community and throughout the surrounding world.  

As a passion for what is demanded of and from you, so as to return it in a higher form. 

Fields meant to be pursued.