It was probably about 15 years ago when Kay Yow gave to me the booklet , "The Tyranny of the Urgent" by Charles Hummel.  I read it.  It seemed foreign to me.  Life was buzzing all around me, and I had so much energy for it.  I knew she thought it to be important, so it was, but I just didn't grasp it.  I remember liking it, thinking about it, but I didn't buy in to the concept. The 2nd course of this concept was in Jim's class a few years ago.  The image of making a pickle...the examples he used of slowing down, and relentlessly eliminating hurry in my life...well, I totally bought in.  Today is July 3rd, and I will be getting ready to leave on my annual Division I recruiting pilgrimage all over the country.  I smile as I think of the irony that this week , our final chapter of the Good and Beautiful Life, is the week some of us will be totally challenged by the truths of this chapter.  A great and challenging final exam.

Spiritual transformation is a SLOW PROCESS and it never ends. Once, while in Jims class, I broke one of my rules and criticized a player in the press.  I apologized to her. She didn't seem at all phased by what I had done, but uncomfortable with the apology!  I felt horrible. In talking with Jim through the class, I relayed the story.  His comment:  "God doesn't like perfect. congratulations. Try again the next time you have the opportunity.  You will do better."  Truth is, I have not made the same mistake again.  I have grown ...but am still pickling.

• Look around this week as the Lord gives you opportunities to "be where you are".  With my players, I call that face time. Yyou can do it.....slow down. How does this feel?
• Do you believe , as coaches, we are obsessed with "productivity, speed,, and effeciency"? Maybe more importantly, do you think this takes away from coaching with Kingdom principles?
• Jim writes on page 177, "the mantra of our achievement-oriented world is, you are only as valuable as what you produce."  We bench our players when they aren't productive.  Some of us have been fired because we have not produced.  Can you see how this really should not connect with the well being of our souls, but how it does?
• Read Mark 1:35-39 and look for Jesus’ balance of contemplation and action, rest and labor. is this the image of true balance?
• Mary’s heart and Martha’s distraction are both part of our lives. Jesus’ gentle rebuke was, "there is need of only ONE thing".  That is to listen to Jesus, to become like Jesus. Simply, JESUS.  On page 181 Jim writes, "We simply do not have enough time to do all that we would like to do. When we add too many things to our lives, something has to be eliminated.  Unfortunately, busy people (COACHES) often rid themselves of the most important ones: RELATIONSHIPS, SPIRITUAL PRACTICES, AND SELF CARE."  Is this a description of your life? If it is....listen to Jesus.

When I read the 10,000 hour rule, I smiled.  Any of your players achieve the level of mastery associated with this?  For me, if I get them to practice an extra hour during the week on their skills, I am excited....I got Gladwell’s point that to become proficient at something, it takes a lot of time. a  After I got over the desire to have a player who truly understood this, I applied it to my life.

Yes, change is slow, but it does happen. And you are the author of that change in your life.  My prayer is that this book replaced some of the false narratives in your life that prevented change, and that the exercises you built on have shown you a glimpse of that change.  I hope you have fallen in love with Jesus, who is truly good and beautiful.  Be patient.  Stay with it. the sports world needs kingdom coaches!

We will take a break from the series, but go ahead and order book 2, The Good and Beautiful Life.  We will go through that in the fall. In the meantime, I will be blogging weekly with stories, exercises, and pictures.  Please join in.  If you see me on the road, it is my hope we can go share a meal and discuss what we are learning.  Keep the faith and pickle on!