REFLECTIONS

Do you, like myself stop often and reflect back on the wins and losses in your life? My daughter gave me for Father's Day a book written by Les Steckel who coached the Tennessee Titans. Les talks very candidly about his victories and defeats and how he managed to deal with the situation. In my mind there is a very vast difference in the question of, Have we failed or just been defeated? We all suffer defeats along the way but that does not make us a failure. Its all in how we deal with the situation.
Les, in his book makes this statement, "I think that's why God asked me, Do you have faith? The question is whether I really believe he is in control of everything good and bad--all of it. Can I trust him when I reach the peak of success? Can I trust him when I crash on the rocks? Les's book is titled One Yard Short. I like that title and it reminds me when we come up short in our efforts. I have seen and watched football games when the final play depended on making that one yard. Was it God's fault that the play failed or was it God who made the extra yard for the winning touchdown? No, God did not reach down to run interference so that the goal line was crossed. I do agree with Les Steckel that God cares what happens in a game. I also believe God is very interested in our game of life and wants to be a part of it.
Every aspect of our lives are important to God. Every task we do, he is there with us. He cares deeply about whatever we care deeply about, because he loves us with an everlasting love. Les states; "I believe he is great enough that there are no little things with him, nor any little people.
Les also states; I've heard it said that we learn the greatest lessons through adversity. If thats true, I ought to be a genius by now. I don't know any football coach who has been fired as many times as I have. I expect to be the first inductee in the Pink Slip Hall of Fame, if they ever build one.
Remember, whoever wins or loses in the game, God loves both sides.

GET MOTIVATED

Tuesday, I was priviledged to attend the Get Motivated Seminar held here in North Little Rock at the Alltel Arena. My daughter Cindy gave me a ticket for the Executive section and I really enjoyed the entire day. There were numerous speakers and all did a very good job of presenting some helpful material to challenge a person's thinking. Speakers like Phil Town, Peter Lowe, Krish Dhanam, Rudy Giuliani, Tim Timmons, Ruben Gonzalez, Jeff Taylor, (Monster. Com) James Smith, Brian Tracy, Dr. Robert Schuller. I was disapointed that Zig Zigler could not attend due to medical problems. His daughter was there and informed the audience that Zig had fallen and as a result of the fall had to have a shunt placed to remove fluid from his brain. His Doctors would not permit him to travel. I have been a Zig Zigler fan for years and will always remember his advice on "stinking thinking" and how everyone needs a "check up from the neck up."

I suppose even at my age, everyone like myself needs to stop occasionally and re assess where we have been and where we are headed. No one ever out grows their need for ongoing needs for improving human relations. We often get so steeped in our thinking that we forget about others. One of my first sessions years ago with Zig Zigler, he made this statement. "You can achieve anything you want in this life, if you help others to achieve what they desire." Its a matter of forgetting the "Me" and seeking to help those around us to a better and more fulfilled lifestyle. Of course, this cannot be achieved without our seeking help from our Maker and Lord above.

One thing kept running thru my mind during the day listening to all the success stories was the fact that our accomplishments cannot be done alone. What will others remember you by when your life is past? I wonder about that question myself. What have we accomplished? What will our legacy be? We hear a lot about these days about legacy. Truly, I have no clue as to how others will perceive or remember my accomplishments. One thing I would like to think is that I have always been steadfast, unmovable, always having faith. But who knows? It behooves each of us to really look at our lives and continually strive to be the type people God would have us to be. Always looking ahead to a brighter future of love, dedication and our service to mankind.