In our town, there is a high school P.E. coach named Paul who I have encountered on several occasions. The first time was earlier this summer when I met him and his adult son Jakob atop a steep hill in our area that is popular with runners and mountain bikers.
As the school year dawned, I saw him again regularly at a track where I go for training runs. He had his soccer team running drills there.
I don't know how many kids are on that team, maybe 20 or so. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities. When they run laps, some finish far ahead of the others. Yet, as they finish they gather and call out encouragement to their teammates. "C'mon! You can do it! Great job! Way to go, man!"
Everyone on the team cheers until the last runner has finished his mile.
It's not that I would expect them to yell, "Move your butt, slow-poke!" but they could finish their mile and just talk to each other until the rest wrap it up. Instead, they stay involved with one another, lifting each one up, making sure everyone knows they are important to the team and worth cheering.
They are learning that cheering another person's success does not diminish their own.
What a valuable lesson to teach.
Way to go, Coach!
Pace e bene,
Fr. David+
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Friday, August 17, 2012
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Wisdom or Strength
The master and his disciple were walking beside a stream, when the disciple asked, "Master, what it strength?"
The master stopped, and as is often the custom with masters, responded to his question with a question. "Which is stronger, you or a cup of water?"
The disciple replied, "Water has no muscles, so of course I am stronger."
The master in turn said, "Form a cup with your hands and scoop some water out of the stream. Then, keep it in your hands until I say to release it."
The disciple did as he was told, but the water seeped out of his hands. "Try again," the master said. Once more, the disciple cupped his hands and pressed them tightly together; still the water slowly seeped out of his grasp. The master invited him to try again, knowing he would use all of his might to close the gaps between his fingers and his hands. However, the water seeped out.
The disciple, realizing he was destined to failure, turned to the master to understand the meaning of the lesson.
The master, a compassionate man, did not make him wait. "You are stronger," he said, "But the water is wiser. Which is true strength?"
Blessings,
David
The master stopped, and as is often the custom with masters, responded to his question with a question. "Which is stronger, you or a cup of water?"
The disciple replied, "Water has no muscles, so of course I am stronger."
The master in turn said, "Form a cup with your hands and scoop some water out of the stream. Then, keep it in your hands until I say to release it."
The disciple did as he was told, but the water seeped out of his hands. "Try again," the master said. Once more, the disciple cupped his hands and pressed them tightly together; still the water slowly seeped out of his grasp. The master invited him to try again, knowing he would use all of his might to close the gaps between his fingers and his hands. However, the water seeped out.
The disciple, realizing he was destined to failure, turned to the master to understand the meaning of the lesson.
The master, a compassionate man, did not make him wait. "You are stronger," he said, "But the water is wiser. Which is true strength?"
Blessings,
David
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