The Influence of Coach
We all have influence. We influence others every day whether we are trying or not. What we say or don’t say, how we look at or don’t look at someone, and especially how we give our time or don’t give our time all send very influencing messages to the people around us.
Have you ever stopped to think about what influence you want to make? Let me tell you about someone who’s influence is nothing short of Unbelievable.
This week My High School Baseball coached passed away. He was in his 70’s but none of us thought he was even at risk of losing his life. He was still coaching the El Segundo Eagles and coaching them with the same consistent success that decades of players have come to expect.
In 50 years John Stevenson must have coached over 1000 teenage men and taught another 10,000 students at El Segundo High School. Who gives their lives to the development of young men and Women for 50 years? When was the last time we gave so much as an hour to invest in someone outside our own family?
As news of his passing spread, stories quickly started to pour in about the impact that Coach Stevenson has had on people over the years; Stories on the field, stories in the classroom, stories in the community and personal stories of friends.
My story started in the stands, was developed on the field and has lived on in my pursuit of investing in others.
As a young kid my brother Phil Norris played for Coach and I watched from the stands. The dream of one day playing for the Eagles quickly grew and grew. Now the stories of Coach Stevenson’s, tenacity as a coach and passion as a competitor were plentiful. You know what I’m talking about everyone of us who ever played for coach lost part of ourselves on that field courtesy of a verbal chewing. John knew how to get his point across when we didn’t do what we were supposed to do. He knew what it took to win and expected us all to give it our best.
In the moment it seemed harsh and we might have hated him for his strong words. In hindsight though I have greater appreciation for what he instilled in us. John instilled in all of us a strong work ethic. He held us to a higher standard and he spent time with us developing us every step of the way. He knew how difficult life was and he used baseball to develop the skills we would need to not only survive but succeed in this life.
My days of playing have long passed but what remains is the drive to be a team player, the passion to never loose hope no matter how far behind we are going into the last inning, and the value to invest in those around me. A part of coach will live on inside me in those ways.
These days I am a Pastor and I realize that the things that made me successful in baseball are not too different than what will make me successful in Life.
-Listen to your Coach. God truly wants me to experience life to the fullest and has given me The Bible and Jesus Christ to instruct me.
-Be Ready everyday. God is using life situation to make me stronger, more capable, more seasoned, more complete and more prepared to deal with life’s challenges.
-Care about the people around you. God wants us all to work as one so we can face life together and not be on our own.
- Debrief after the game. You cant learn from your mistakes if you aren’t aware of what they are, so be receptive to constructive criticsm.
-Be willing to sacrifice yourself for your team. Jesus gave himself so we could get home! It was the ultimate Suicide Squeeze!! In the same way we need to give up our own desires so others around us can know they are cared for.
One day we all have to hang up our spikes and our Playing days are over. I encourage all of us to live life while we can!!!
Thanks for your Inflence Coach!!!
So have you given it any thought? What type of influence do you want to make on others? What do you want people to say about you after its all said and done?
Pastor Low Norris