A Man of Honor
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| Coach Wooden Memorial from ESPN Basketball site |
You have probably heard me refer to our home as “Sports Central”, where ESPN runs 24/7. That may be a slight exaggeration, but sports do rule the family room in our home. Basketball ranks as No. 1 among our sports enthusiasts, so it is no surprise that our family grieved the passing of Coach John Wooden on Friday evening. We have had the privilege of learning about this outstanding man mostly through my cousin, an athletic trainer for UCLA and recent caretaker for Coach Wooden. While we will miss the wisdom of this sage man and coach, we are grateful that he is now at home in the Lord’s arms.
As ESPN and Fox News recapped the highlights of Coach Wooden’s years, they frequently referred to the principles by which he lived. Three of several “Woodenisnms” that captured my attention are re-quoted here:
“Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” John Wooden
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” John Wooden
“Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.” John Wooden
Coach Wooden’s principles that impacted the lives of numerous athletes and coaches have their foundation in God’s Word. Should we be surprised? He was a man who placed Christ as the cornerstone of his life.
Scripture tells us:” The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.” Psalm 37:30&31 NIV
May our character be a reflection of Christ’s that others may find a sure foundation for their lives.
What words of wisdom have impacted your life? Did you know of John Wooden? What advice or wisdom would you give to those journeying with the Lord? Please include your comments below.
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Thanks, Kevin. You always have words of wisdom. In the simple, we find the magnificence of Jesus. I remember hearing my children sing that in their morning assemblies. Tear-stained face and their profound purity and trust in “the Bible tells me so.”
Blessings,
Janis
I absolutely loved the quotes–all of them.
Isn’t is amazing how the most complex thoughts can be described in just a few words if the words are used correctly?
I am reading the book, Jesus Manifesto, and one of the comments is that Christianity isn’t found in the complex, but yet the simple.
You can’t get much more profound and complex than the simple children’s song.
Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.