Keith Dodd, Bob Crowe, Ev Befus
Fall is here, and football is the season's sport. Cool evenings and hearing the marching band practice at the nearby local high school, brings to life fond memories of my football coaching days in Wyoming. "Coach Dodd" is one of the most endearing names I've ever been called. There is an indescribable bond and relationship between players and coaches.
I was head coach, ably assisted by Everett Befus and Bob Crowe, and for three years we coached the Glenrock High "Herders" to a 23-1-2 record capped by a State Championship. (More about this unique nickname, Herders, below.) The three of us came to Glenrock when to the small community, a .500 season would represent success. But, enough bragging and nostalgia; get on to Practicing the Faith.
Usually when we hear "faith" and "practice" together it relates to whether someone goes to worship service on a somewhat regular basis, contributes to budget, leads a fairly respectful life, and so forth. "Jane and her family really seem to practice their faith." "Stephen is Catholic, but not a practicing one: mass only on Christmas and Easter, and never confession."
But, in this Reflection, I'm thinking of practice in the sense of working out, getting it right, practice Monday through Thursday, game Friday night. (Or as totally dissed in 2002 by ex Philadelphia 76er Allen Iverson in his infamous Practice Rant.) Practice is critical. In high school, most football teams would probably spend ten times as much time on the practice field (Monday through Thursday) as in a Friday night game. Add to that at least 50 hours in the two weeks of summer two-a-days, and the ratio is staggering. And that does not include chalk-talk type classroom sessions. I can't imagine the ratio of a marathon runner's training time to actually running the race.
Often when we consider our faith, we place faith in an isolated compartment, apart from our job, family, fitness, eduction, and other more secular facets of our lives. My "religious" compartment includes church, prayer, meditation, and such. I may consider my faith life as on a higher plane, a purer one, trying to function in ways uninfluenced by other life compartments.
For many of us, as we grow in faith, we realize our faith shouldn't be isolation, that it should influence other of life's compartments. My faith should influence how I approach my job, how I interact within my family, how I spend money. We may even let our faith compel us to choose more healthy eating and exercise habits: We might take seriously the faith statement that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Somehow it seems "right" for our faith to influence other aspects (compartments) of our lives. We feel good with a more integrated life.
But, do we ever think that those secular compartments might have something to offer our "faith" compartment? Or would that would be a slippery slope to corrupting our faith? As a school principal, I once had a superintendent who was a devout Christian, and it was obvious that his faith influenced (in a positive way) how he did his job. But it seemed he never let any compartment, such as eduction and science, affect his faith. In school matters, he would demand proof, ask tough questions, test hypotheses. But, when he and I talked about faith topics, he was a different person. "No, I don't question; I just believe." It was very frustrating to have any dialogue of faith with him. His faith could influence; but, his faith could not be influenced.
Obviously, from my reaction to this boss, I think of the interaction of faith and other aspects of life as a two-way street. I realize that my faith has not only been shaped by bible reading, church, and fellowship with other Christians. But, education, science, interaction with other more secular friends have been influences, too. And, to bring this back to PRACTICE, my athletic and coaching experiences influence my faith.
Only recently have I realized that matters of faith may require the practice and discipline of an athlete in training. To grow in faith, we need to realize that growth is not always easy, we might not feel motivated. I know that I've set a goal to spend time in contemplation and meditation each morning. But on some days, "This morning I'm tired, don't feel like it. Too much on my plate." "I'll skip church this Sunday; I need some time just relaxing. Besides, why go when you don't feel in the mood? God wouldn't want me to be insincere." Get thee, behind me, Satan! I need to practice ... practice my faith.
This type of thinking is typical: "I know I didn't feel like working out this morning; but, I dragged myself over to the fitness center, regardless the snow on the roads." "I'm sleepy but want to finish watching the ballgame. Too tired for even a couple minutes of evening devotions; maybe will get to it tomorrow night. Sorry, God. You wouldn't want me to talk with you when I'm not really in the mood, would you? Yeah, I know I worked out this morning when I didn't feel like it. But, that's different, right?"
Maybe there is a reason spiritual advisors call things like mediation and prayer "Spiritual Disciplines." To grow in faith, they know that one needs the discipline of an athlete in training. PRACTICE the faith!
Practice and discipline are not important only in athletics. Columnist David Brooks, recently in his New York Times columnThe Good Order, David Brooks, New York Times, Sept. 25, 2014., shared examples of the need for discipline in creative writing (an ability we might think of as dependent mainly on inspiration and perhaps even hindered by discipline). For example:
"When she was writing, Maya Angelou would get up every morning at 5:30 and have coffee at 6. At 6:30, she would go off to a hotel room she kept -- a small modest room with nothing but a bed, desk, bible, dictionary, deck of cards and bottle of sherry. She would arrive at the room at 7 a.m. and write until 12:30 p.m. or 2 o'clock."
Brooks goes on to say that, "creative people organize their lives according to repetitive, disciplined routines. They think like artists but work like accountants." He concludes, "People who lead routine, anal-retentive lives have a bad reputation in our culture. but life is paradoxical. In situation after situation, this pattern recurs: order and discipline are the prerequisites for creativity and daring." Maybe it is the same with faith.
We realize that our faith should influence all aspects of our lives. (Whether it actually does may be another story!) But, it is also legitimate for secular aspects, such as study habits, athletics, science, and such, to influence our lives of faith. If discipline and practice are necessary for athletes and creative writers, it makes sense that the same discipline and practice are necessary for a vibrant and growing faith.
In Part II of this Reflection, I'll explore a technique I used in coaching that seems valuable to growing our faith.
It (Psycho-Cybernetics) involves not just being disciplined and faithful, but actual PRACTICE. Stay tuned.
In the meantime ...
Practice, practice, practice!
Coach Dodd
Resources Related To this Reflection
Glenrock Football statistics, coaches, records over the years, including my years of 1969-1971.
Occasional, personal thoughts on Faith and Life, from a layperson trying to understand God in the ordinary days of our lives.
 Rev. John Lewis Posted: 8/25/20 A reflection on a personal hero: Rev. John Lewis John Lewis has been a personal hero of mine. In this, I reflect on his life and work, as well as the hope his life gives. |
 ''Do You Have Anything to Eat?'' Posted: 5/12/20 The post-resurrection stories of Jesus eating fish stimulates some thoughts about a wonderful heaven. Jesus eating fish after his resurrection might give insight into what a resurrected life might be like for us. |
 God's, Sometimes Slow, Movement Posted: 1/10/20 A picture of my wife and Bishop Curry stirs thoughts of the evolution of racial justice. God brings about change -- change to increased justce. Sometimes it is very slow. |
 Sacred Places; OLD Sacred Places (II) Posted: 8/31/19 My Reflection on the Bishops & Breweries Tour genrerated many questions. I've tried to ponder these. At the end of my last Reflection, I listed a few questions (called my wonderings). In this one, I share thoughts on those. |
FULL LISTING of past posts available at Earlier Reflections.
I began writing these Reflections in the fall of 2013 and continued on a fairly regular schedule until 2020. Seemed difficult to get any positive inspiratation to write during that time of the pandemic.
And as is evident by the last Reflections's date, and not done any since.
I enjoyed all those years writing. But was time to quit. Thanks to all those who have read these Reflections and who from time to time continue.
Ever wonder what life is like for a public school principal? For 19 years, I served as a middle school principal. Over two of those years, I kept a daily diary of my work, thoughts, and feelings.
The Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine published a feature on my diary and included several entries. You can see that publication at Principal's Diary on my personal website.