more than winning..

i love inspiring movies. i love the emotion they evoke in me. i love the celebration of victory when not only the good people win, but when hearts are impacted and lives are changed.

jordan and i rarely get to go out to the movies, so with our final weekend of summer we headed to the theater saturday night and saw "when the game stands tall". two big thumbs up from the suggs. this movie is not just a a feel good movie. it's not just celebrating the victory. in fact, it's so much more than that. it's about brotherhood. relationships. sacrifice. rising up when life struggles hit you. seeking to fight for one another. looking beyond the game, or even winning, but finding who you are and how you will live because of the struggle. to be committed and give perfect effort.

being a coach and teacher, jordan and i both have had our fair share of battling what is more important. is it the title? the success? winning? getting appreciation? meeting expectations? seeing change or transformation? is our to-do list taking more priority than where we are or who we are around? are we making it about us? or are we striving to make much of God? are we loving God and loving people?

from this one movie, my mind races to ask those questions. in our culture today, we are measured by our success or achievements. somehow we've been placed under a standard or expectation by others. on the other side, one cannot necessary measure a heart that has been impacted or a life that has been changed. i didn't realize how certain people played a part in my life until later when life is tested and the hardships hit. that is when you know who you really are and who truly will stand tall next to you. all the little things in life then fade away. all the titles, wins, loses go away. 

[i am beyond grateful for my best friends (you know who you are) who have never wavered in their support throughout my life and all what has been thrown at me. you have bravely stood tall, held me up and fought for me. you have become precious irons in my life. for that i am forever thankful to my God in heaven for the gift of you.] 

what a reminder to me and jordan as we head into a new school year. tomorrow is the day we start year 3 at nbca. we have been given such a platform to be in the lives of teenagers each day. whether that's teaching in front of them or coaching them on a court or a field. we've been given a responsibility, to not just add to these students academic education. not just prepare them for the next year or even their job. we've been given a chance to invest in the very lives of the next generation. in hopes they too will make much of Christ and live fully for Him. i want our days with these students to be filled with life giving conversation. with laughter, encouragement, prayer, character building, and most importantly helping them understand who they are in Christ. 

so yes, there is so much more than coaching, than winning, or even success. 

as one of the coaches from the movie said, 

"don't let the game define who you are, 
but let the way you live your life define you."