OCTOBER 24, 2024

 “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” 

― John Wooden

JEREMIAH 11-13

I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. (11:4)

1 TIMOTHY 4

4For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

6If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,^a you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

JOURNAL 

When you really get down to it, the odds are stacked against us. Life on earth does not end well for any of us. Not only are we are in a world that is fraught with disasters and problems, etc. we are ultimately destined to slowly waste away or die tragically. That's our physical future and there is no escaping it. However in the interim while we are here we do have another hope...God promises that when we seek him and obey him our heart and life will be filled with joy. In fact we are told that there is nothing that compares to this joy, no outcome, success or circumstance can ever eclipse the joy in following God.

When I read the Bible and read of Paul, the disciples, Moses, Noah, David...I see this play out in their lives.  Recently I was inspired by the poem and the idea of the "stonecutter" and the philosophy of finding joy in the mundane. I also have learned that scientifically when we do hard things...things that we don't necessarily want to do but know that we need to do, the part of our brain responsible for determination and grit becomes more dominant. It becomes stronger and we chemically find satisfaction in doing "hard things". So again the Bible and the commands of God fall directly in line with what science is discovering about the brain. That joy and hope is not due to an outcome but rather in the giving of my best in the daily tasks of which I am blessed to have the opportunity to perform. It is from this perspective, that I can clearly see the blessings of life, regardless of the outcome, or result. Success or failure is a world perspective...obedience and joy is from God. 

This mindset was precisely the mindset that the legendary coach John Wooden sought to inspire in his players...actually he more or less demanded it. It wasn't a scoreboard or an outcome it was the moment by moment discipline to give your best to become the best that each one of us is capable of becoming. That and that alone is true success and when an organization is filled with individuals that take that level of responsibility...magic happens! 

God help me to keep this perspective. Protect me from the filter of apathy, worry and fear. Replace it with one that sees life from the perspective of all the opportunities in front of me and all the wonder and opportunity that they actually possess. 

17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19