The Basis for Expectation

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I was a skinny kid, but I was a good athlete. Picture that: big Afro, winning smile and some Converse high-tops. From the time I was about ten until I was about fourteen, I ruled. There were two other guys I competed with, and we were the best. But then, once we hit fourteen, they started to pull away from me. They started to excel beyond me. Suddenly I wasn’t one of the top three athletes in the school anymore. That really messed me up. I lost the thing that defined me. But what I discovered is that I was letting other people define me. I was using the abilities I had, and doing things I liked, but it turns out I only liked them if I was the best. If I wasn’t coming in first, I felt like a nobody.

It took me years to shake off these feelings that if I wasn’t first, I wasn’t anything at all. And even longer to stop looking outside myself for satisfaction, the standards of judgment, for the goals I wanted to achieve. Ultimately, I learned that the things I needed to know, the goals that I needed to achieve, were inside of me.

Everyone comes to life with a promise. You can think of it as a promise from God, as I do, or you can think of it as a promise wrapped up inside of you…a promise you’ve been given or a promise you have. The dictionary defines promise as “a statement of what you will or will not do” or “a basis of expectation.” Both of them are true about us. The promise we have is our basis for expecting our lives to be great and we must make a statement that we will make the promise come to pass.

What’s your promise? What’s your basis of expectation? Think about the two aspects of the promise…what you have been given, but also what you have already within you.

 

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Our Deepest Fear…

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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

It is true…sometimes we sabotage our own success. Stepping into your destiny doesn’t just bring liberation to you…it liberates others. I’ve said it for years, someone is waiting for you on the other side of your obedience. So what are you waiting for?

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Am I Grateful?

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I recently read a quote that got me thinking, especially with Thanksgiving close behind us and Christmas quickly approaching.

“You can’t be grateful for something you feel entitled to.”

Many of us have been taught to be expectant of what we want from God…expectant of the blessings, expectant of prosperity, happiness, and a good life (car, house, spouse, job, etc). I hear people reminding God in their prayers of what He is supposed to do. Now before I get too many people upset for ruffling some feathers. I do believe in miracles. I do believe God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. I just think sometimes we miss being grateful.

When I was a kid and I got a new pair of high tops, I was so happy I could hardly keep it to myself. I wanted to show them off on the court. I believed they would make me jump a little higher, run a little faster and play a little better. We didn’t have a lot of money as a family. My father worked as steelworker and my mother, at a doughnut shop. Getting a new pair of shoes was not something that came frequently. It was a special occasion…and I was grateful.

Nowadays, I don’t get so excited when I get a new pair of shoes. It’s common. I sometimes forget to be grateful for what God has blessed me with. I sometimes forget that I have it so good. I sometimes forget that even on my worst days…I am far better off than many. I don’t tell you this to brag or boast, but instead to say that some days my perspective shifts.

My mother.

When I see my mother receive a gift from a loved one, I see the gratefulness in her eyes. She has been through hell and back and still remains grateful. She, if anyone, deserves the best, yet she remains humble and gratefully accepts the good and the bad in life. Her joy is not dictated by possessions and ease. Her joy is rooted much deeper. Her joy is rooted in the peace and joy of God. She is grateful for life.

This Christmas, among the presents and shiny toys, remember to be grateful. Remember, you do not deserve the love you receive from God, but you are given it unconditionally. You are not entitled to earthly treasures, yet are given heavenly treasures day after day.

“Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.” Matthew 8:3 MSG

I am grateful for so much. What are you grateful for?

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A Coach’s Desire

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My hope this season is that you find it in your soul to be the person you were called to be…that generosity and unconditional love would become common habits in your life. I’ve traveled all over the world the last 30 something years and I run into people all over looking to me to change their circumstance in life. My goal is not create a giant fan base and to increase product sales. I am not the answer to all you challenges in life. My goal is simple…to see you step into the life you were called to live.

Phil Jackson with Kobe Bryant

It’s interesting when I think about a coach’s job. Coaches don’t make touchdowns, slam dunks or home runs. The coach’s priority is to get the players to trust themselves and each other to be the best player possible…to believe in the team. The other day I drove by a basketball court in my old neighborhood. I saw Kobe jerseys, Iverson jerseys, and even an old Scottie Pippen jersey. But, not one Phil Jackson suit/shirt/tie. Phil Jackson understood that it was not his job to be the superstar…it was his job to get the immature kid with his head in the stars to buckle down, learn discipline and teamwork…and then, eventually, inevitably become a superstar.

“Despite their tremendous talent, (NBA players) are still, by and large, young adults, seeking validation from an authority figure, and there is no greater authority figure on a team than the coach. Needless to say, in today’s warped, self-indulgent climate, too many players couldn’t care less about appeasing the coach.” – Phil Jackson (Retired NBA Coach)

Most people want to make a difference. Most people want to help to make things better. Most people would like to find a way to change the world. But we don’t always know where to start. Start by focusing on the basics. The basics in this life are simple…love God, love people. These two work hand in hand. You can’t love God without loving people and vise versa. Connect and listen to the coach of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Embrace His generosity and compassion and go and do likewise.

I know that sometimes when we speak of loving our neighbors, we think of the nice ones first. We think of the cute children and nice elderly woman knitting scarves. However, thinking beyond the easy and into the emotionally difficult is the difference between high school ball and the major leagues. Being generous to those who least deserve it and to those who may not even always say thank you are sometimes the most difficult situations in life. However, is this not the same compassion shown us.

This Christmas season, remember…it’s not about you. It’s not about the new iPad, or even the Christmas ham. It’s about remembering God’s love for us and the challenge to reciprocate that love to each person we come in contact with.

Now go and change the world. Be the champion you were called to be. Embrace the love of God and through that love, embrace those around you. I believe in you.

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