Reflections From the Home Team: June 2020

Monday, June 22, 2020

Reflections from the Home Team - June 22, 2020

“Find your ‘one thing’ that you can do to contribute to the solution. I don't know what your one thing should be. But I do know it feels a lot better to act and see change, than argue about it online. Imagine if millions of people picked one thing to make a difference. Imagine everyone being part of the solution. This is how we will change the world for better!”

Jon Gordon

Greetings from Cedar Falls,

As I reflect on the events of the past few months in our country, I am truly disheartened by what I see. I have witnessed the divisions that currently exist in our country, along with the tragic, senseless acts of violence being displayed. I’m deeply troubled by the hurtful comments being made and directed at others with whom we may disagree. So many disparaging comments are being directed toward individuals and groups on both sides of a discussion. I see them on T.V., hear them on the radio, and read them on social media, and without question, they continue to push us more and more into the ‘great divide’. That brings me to this reflection.

Let me begin with an analogy, baseball related of course…Nothing is worse for a baseball player than a hitting slump. Most players have encountered them at one time or another and sometimes they seem to last forever. I’ve seen hitting slumps make players quit before…that’s how frustrating they are.

When a player is in a slump, they usually have people from every angle telling them what to do. “Be patient”, “Load early”, “Stay back on it”, “Use a different bat” and many more things are called out to batters when they’re in the box. Coaches, parents, and other players, all well-meaning, trying to “get in their ear” while trying to give them directions. I’ve been on the receiving end of that a time or two. I’m feeling some of the same frustrations with a number of things going on in our current reality as we as a nation appear divided about politics, COVID-19 and racial issues. As I’ve often shared, baseball can offer us many life lessons, so please bear with me as I make an analogy in this reflection.

Most “experts” believe that hitting slumps are most often caused by a mental change, not a physical one. There are many things that you can work on to overcome a hitting slump but having a specific thing to focus on helps a batter to not overthink his swing. The “art” of doing one thing at a time can also be applied in our current reality if we are to have meaningful and productive change. In his recent Newsletter, Jon Gordon shared some thoughts on the “Art” of doing one thing… Jon writes:

DO ONE THING

Have you noticed a lot more fighting and dividing happening on people's social media pages the last few weeks? I've seen friends, neighbors and families debating each other and becoming divided about politics, COVID-19 and racial issues.

When I wrote that we need to have a conversation about race two weeks ago, I didn't mean on Facebook or Twitter. We need real conversations where we can talk, listen and explore the depths of the issues and the experiences that drive each person's perspective and narrative.

Instead of meaningful dialogue, people are responding back and forth with negative comments. They are angry and looking for someone to engage and unleash their anger on.

Too many are talking, instead of listening. Too many are looking for a fight instead of finding ways to unite. Too many are contributing to the noise pollution instead of being part of the solution.

St. Anthony of Padua said, "Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions."

The truth is, no one ever changed the world by arguing on social media. We need less words and more action!

I realize that you may not know where to start. When you dive into the issues, they are very complex and there is a lot to do. With all the layers to the predicament we are facing today it can feel overwhelming. It can make you feel powerless, so you don't do anything.

But we can all do something and if we all do one thing to contribute to the solution, we can accomplish a lot.

So, here's the deal. Find your "one thing" that you can do to contribute to the solution.

I don't know what your one thing should be. But I do know it feels a lot better to act and see change, than argue about it online.

Imagine if millions of people picked one thing to make a difference.

Imagine everyone being part of the solution.

This is how we will change the world for better

-Jon

I’ve found that people who have suffered in some way can usually understand and relate to others who are experiencing similar struggles… They have the space and capacity for compassion and understanding for others who may be struggling. Deep understanding and compassion are formed much more by shared pain than by shared pleasure.

Seeing how divided our country is right now, it's clear we need to have a difficult conversation about race in America. Instead of being separate teams we need to become one team. It starts by listening to and understanding those who are frustrated and hurting. We can all grow if we just stop and listen. To start the process and better understand the struggles of the history of racism in our Country, may I suggest reading a book recommended by a good friend titled The Sun Does Shine, How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton. I’d also encourage you to watch the movie Just Mercy, a powerful and thought-provoking true story, about a young lawyer who heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned, with the support of a local advocate. Both are stories that can help us understand and have compassion for those struggling with the issue of race in America.

Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:31-32, "You must be ground like wheat, and once you have recovered, then you can turn and help your brothers." Until we take the time to stop and listen, it is difficult to help those who may not share our same experiences.

We can certainly take a lesson from how Jesus handled these types of situations. He didn't post things on social media dismissing people he disagreed with and he didn't tear other's character down. Jesus offered them love and support, not only showing them a better way, but He also modeled it Himself. We are all complex, we are all sinners, and we simply can't wait for "perfection" to begin the process of understanding each other. Let's allow the light of positivity to shine through all those complex folks around us as we start a revival of our own in 2020, each doing our "one thing" to contribute to a solution in helping change the world for the better.

May we each be a part of a solution, one step at a time.

Dave

Are you or someone you know fighting cancer... struggling with the physical, emotional and spiritual issues that accompany a cancer journey or other serious health issue? Making ourselves available to others can open up the doors of opportunity for deeper relationships, healing, and transformation. For many, time is one of the most valuable commodities in today's fast-paced world. Sharing time with others is a wonderful gift. It says, "Here I am... for you. To listen, to care, to serve." The power of presence should never be underestimated!

Be an encourager in someone else’s life!

To learn more about being an encourager, and to view the Reflections blog, visit the Reflections from the Home Team website at:

www.reflectionsfromthehometeam.com/

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Reflections from the Home Team - June 13, 2020

“Our attitudes are shaped in the home and as I have had the privilege of working with young people of all races, ethnicities and genders as a teacher, coach and principal over the past 40 years, that is certainly a fact that has stood out to me. Interestingly, as much as I agree that we as adults must take the time to help shape our young people, I have also been profoundly impacted by the young people in my life that I have had the opportunity to “grow up” with over my career in education and athletics. They have provided me some much-needed love, care, support and wisdom during the times I have faced not only the health challenges of cancer but also the tensions and challenges that I have faced in my work. Just as the two youngsters featured in the image above have used their “innocence” in viewing each other as best friends, it’s a prime example of how we should all view each other as loved regardless of the color of our skin.”

Greetings from Cedar Falls,

My heart was touched recently when I viewed the image above given the emotions I have experienced as I heard the words uttered by George Floyd as he gasped for his breath and called for his deceased mother with a knee on his neck. Just like the video of two men chasing down and shooting Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia while he was out running. It’s unfathomable that these things are happening in our country in 2020. As we’ve witnessed the response play out in cities across our nation, it makes it clear that we are in need of a wake-up call. What we are witnessing in our country should be our jolt to stand for what’s right and denounce what is evil.

I recently read an article by Benjamin Watson, former NFL football player and author of the book Under Our Skin where he writes about his experience of having “The Talk” with his children in The Players’ Tribune: He shares:

“The Talk takes many shapes, but at its core it’s the conversation black parents must have with their kids about what it means to be black in America--both historically and right now… The most important part of the “Talk” is to teach our children to think of people as individuals. To see a white man, black man, policeman or any other citizen as humans that may look like others in ‘their’ group, but don’t necessarily act or think like them.”

“We need all families--white, black, whatever race--to have their version of The Talk, too,” Watson writes. “That’s what I’m hoping: that as I’m having The Talk with my daughters or sons, maybe there is a white dad across town talking to his son about race, too. Yes, the conversation will take a different form, but education always starts in the home. It starts with family. When families decide to teach their children and challenge themselves about difficult subjects like race, I believe that’s when you start to see hearts change.”

Benjamin is absolutely right. Our attitudes are shaped in the home and as I have had the privilege of working with young people of all races, ethnicities and genders as a teacher, coach and principal over the past 40 years, that is certainly a fact that has stood out to me. Interestingly, as much as I agree with Benjamin that we as adults must take the time to help shape our young people, I have also been profoundly impacted by the young people in my life that I have had the opportunity to “grow up” with throughout my career in education and athletics. They have provided me some much-needed love, care, support and wisdom during the times I have faced not only the health challenges of cancer but also the tensions and challenges that I have faced in my work. Just as the two youngsters featured in the image above have used their “innocence” in viewing each other as best friends, it’s a prime example of how we should all view each other as loved regardless of the color of our skin.

I have to admit, it's hard to even know where to start when having the “Talk” that Benjamin Watson describes. It’s easy to post a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote on social media and let the world (or at least our small little slice of it) know where we stand on racial issues. It’s much harder to know how to represent Christ and follow the prophet Micah’s urging to “seek justice,” “love mercy,” and “walk humbly” (Micah 6:8) in real life.

In my own personal soul-searching, I feel there are a few things that as a Christian, I can and should be doing during our current racial conversations.

First, I feel we need to believe what the Bible says about race, and let our actions show we believe it. The Bible is abundantly clear about race, from cover to cover. We see God’s creation of man in His image in the beginning, and we see the vision of every tribe, nation and tongue together in heaven in the book Revelation. In between, we have the words of Jesus, Peter, Paul and James:

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:9-10

“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13

Reading these words is one thing. Understanding them and allowing them to guide our everyday life is another. If we believe we are all equal–and family–then it should change how we approach our current events.

Second, we need to pray for racial reconciliation, and pray that it will start with each of us as individuals. As Billy Graham once said, “Whether prayer changes our situation or not, one thing is certain: Prayer will change us!” We should pray for racial reconciliation in our country. As we do, we should be open to the Lord’s leading as He provides opportunities for our own repentance and growth. Christian rapper KB (yes there are Christian rappers) said “We must do more than pray but we can never do less than pray. Prayer is our first protest. Our most effective tool.”

Third, listen to and have empathy for what people are experiencing during these trying times, it’s easy to voice our opinions. And, from what I’ve read and heard, we have a lot of them… So, now is not the time to speak, it’s the time to listen. “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). We need to use the opportunity in front of us to listen to others, while learning about them and their experiences.

There is no hierarchy of human beings demonstrated throughout Scripture. Jesus came so that all may be saved. God has always had open arms to the whole world. In Paul’s writings, we are challenged to consider how Jesus unites all of us as brothers and sisters, regardless of ethnicity or nation. As God loves all peoples, so should we. Remember, you and I can never be the kind of people God wants us to be on our own. We were never intended to do life that way. We all need people who are teaching us, sharing their lives with us, investing in us, and encouraging us to grow.

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

Proverbs 13:20

May we all walk together sharing our experiences with each other, investing in each other and encouraging each other as we grow in loving ALL our neighbors as ourselves.

Blessings to all in this time of challenge and potential growth!

Dave

Be an encourager in someone else’s life!

To learn more about being an encourager, and to view the Reflections blog, visit the Reflections from the Home Team website at:

www.reflectionsfromthehometeam.com/