Tomorrow is my final day of teaching seniors. It is a day of thanksgiving for all we have learned, shared and discovered this past semester. It is a time to impart wisdom and warm wishes. As taken from the woman who hired me--teacher, prophet, activist, advocate for the poor, and now the proud owner of a signed copy of Martin Sheen's book Along the Way, I salute Mary Ahlbach and the Top 5 of her "10 Things I know for sure." I've added with Sports & Spirituality.
5. God loved you
first. Love God in return through
loving others and our heart will be filled with joy and peace (Cura Personalis). “Do small things
with great love.” (Mother Teresa)
The last thing I expected
from a former NFL defensive lineman who played with the Baltimore Colts for
8-years is a coaching philosophy rooted in love. However, Joe Ehrmann, who now serves as the defensive
coordinator at the Gilman School preaches this loud and clear.
The Pultizer prize-winning book Season of Life, reveals his “man for others” philosophy it becomes reality. He asks them:
The Pultizer prize-winning book Season of Life, reveals his “man for others” philosophy it becomes reality. He asks them:
“What is our job as coaches?”Yes it is. Joe Ehrmann knows how to do “small things” with great love. He makes it a priority. In fact, it’s his philosophy.
“To love us,” the boys yelled back in unison.
“What is your job?” Joe shot back.
“To love each other,” the boys responded.
The words were spoken with the familiarity of a mantra, the commitment of an oath, the enthusiasm of a pep rally.
This was football?
4. “Joy is the most
infallible sign of the presence of God.” (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ).
Laugh often and much. Stop complaining. Only listen to music that feeds
your soul. Marry someone who makes you laugh for all the right reasons. One
smile exercises something like 120 muscles in your face.
Indeed, certain games,
athletes, teams and accomplishments have brought great joy to my life. Enough that we can recall those moments
of who/what/where/why and when years later. And, when I do, I can’t help but have a smile on my face and
joy—deep joy in my heart.
Stop Complaining: The late Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture lives by the same mantra. In his presentation on Oprah he “tells on himself. “ He shares that when he was working on his doctorate, he started to complain to his mother about the taxing workload. He was tired and mentally exhausted. He found a different kind of sympathy from his mom.
She said “Talk to your father; he knows just how you feel. When he was your age he was fighting the Germans (in WWII). So much for complaining….
Stop Complaining: The late Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture lives by the same mantra. In his presentation on Oprah he “tells on himself. “ He shares that when he was working on his doctorate, he started to complain to his mother about the taxing workload. He was tired and mentally exhausted. He found a different kind of sympathy from his mom.
She said “Talk to your father; he knows just how you feel. When he was your age he was fighting the Germans (in WWII). So much for complaining….
He then shows a slide of Jackie Robinson, the first black major league baseball player. It was in his contract not to complain, even when the fans spit on him. Men and women aren’t born heroes. They are born when opportunity and adversity meet. Just one of the many reasons this Hall of Famer is beloved by so many.
3. Feel loved by God as if
you were the only human God had ever created, both spiritually and
physically. And treat yourself,
mind, body, spirit, accordingly.
“All is gift. All is grace. All is holy.”
This work of art reveals
that the human body is truly a gift, it is grace and it is holy. An athlete’s body is a machine—it is
primed and sculpted. It is more
than a means to an end. It is a
vehicle for grace and victory, triumph and glory. It should be
honored in every possible way. I
hate the Coliseum, but that work of art leaves me breathless.
2. Remember……the penguin
is real. (story attached)
Unfortunately, I don’t
have the story available. The
closest example I can give is to point you to “Field of Dreams.” Ray and Annie Kinsella, their daughter Karin and Terrence Mann
and can see the baseball players who and Ray’s brother in law, Mark cannot. Those ghosts are real. Believing is seeing.
1.
“Hold your parents tenderly, for the world is a far, far colder place without
them.” (Emily Dickinson)
I once read a study that confirmed every great athlete has at least one parent who (or parent type figure) who helped them get to where they are today. Parents believe in us when no one else does, can or should. Case in point, even Tiger Woods’ mother was at his first official press conference after the world learned of his “transgressions.” I don’t know how she did it, but his world at that point was already frigid. Perhaps his mother made it less so.
Stewart
cupped Mickelson’s face in his hands and said, “I know you’re disappointed. But something far more important is about to happen. You’re
going to become a father. Your life with never be the same.”
Perhaps it is only when we become a parent that we fully understand the love or our own parents. Regardless, they will not always be with us. Let us cherish the time together.
Perhaps it is only when we become a parent that we fully understand the love or our own parents. Regardless, they will not always be with us. Let us cherish the time together.
Photo Credits
Stewart and MickelsonJackie Robinson 42
LA Coliseum
Field of Dreams
Joe Ehrmann
