HOW ARE YOUR GUTS DOING?
The hurricane we experienced this past fall was destructive to say the least. As I walked around my Piscataway neighborhood I was in awe of the power that the hurricane had demonstrated; flooding, uprooted trees, and broken branches were strewn everywhere. My interest was even more piqued when I saw a particularly large tree that appeared to have been a picture of strength. However, the hurricane had exposed that the tree was riddled with disease on the inside making it unable to withstand the powerful gusts of wind brought by the storm. In short, the guts were rotted. It was a powerful reminder to me of two things:
1. Appearances don’t mean all that much if the ‘guts’ aren’t strong! I Sam 16:7 tells us ‘…man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” Proverbs 24:10 also says ‘…if you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength?” The supposedly “strong” tree tipped over and it’s rotted core exposed was a grim reminder to me to review how I walk with Christ when the ‘winds blow.’ It is also a great reason why athletics can be such a powerful tool in the life of a student. The fierce gusts of competitive pressure often give a student a snapshot of what’s on the inside. It is through the leadership of a Godly coach that those moments can be grabbed for important development of the character of the student. It is these experiences that can create a strongly rooted student who can pursue and achieve success in athletics and life. In essence, a focus on the inside health results in a favorable appearance.
2. Regular ‘gut’ checks ensure healthy growth and strong roots. I’m sure that if someone had been regularly checking and treating that tree, it would’ve remained standing. And so it is with accountability in our lives. Accountability is our willingness to explain our actions to another for them to evaluate. In the athletic realm accountability is naturally in place through continuous feedback from coaches to ensure the athletic growth of the student. What about our lives without athletics? Who do we have in our lives that we’ve given permission to perform ‘gut’ checks? Do you have someone in your life that will ask the tough question or tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear? Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up…..”
Athletics at TCS continues to provide incredibly vivid lessons in matters such as these. Each student’s athletic career will come to an end, and what remains in place after that is what will really matter in light of eternity. When was the last time you had a thorough ‘gut’ check? It would be worth it to consider having one. You see, the fallen tree I saw was cleaned up in a matter of days and no one was injured. A fallen life doesn’t clean up so easily and always hurts others. I Corinthians 10:12 “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
God bless & Go Tigers!
Character & Class,
Chris Hobbs, CAA / MSS
Director of Athletics