Determination. A quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult....Firmness of purpose....The act of coming to a decision and sticking with it. Winston Churchill certainly knew this topic well when he said "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never- in nothing, great or small, large or petty-never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." Churchill also said "I am easily satisfied with the very best."
This part year we have watched our San Antonio Spurs' eyes fixed on one goal. From the beginning of the season they have had a firmness of purpose. They have come to a decision and stuck with it. Win the NBA championship. It all started back in 2013 on the very bad, no good night that San Antonio folks refer to as Game 6. Game 6 of the 2013 finals to be exact. In the last minutes of Game 6, yellow security ropes were set out on the American Airlines floor in Miami, ready to crown the Spurs with the championship. A five-point lead with less than 30 seconds seemed like a solid enough lead. Then everything went extremely south. Very south. Ray Allen's miracle 3 pointer with 5.2 seconds left will always leave a bad taste in the mouth of all of us who love our Spurs.
Tim Duncan emulates Winston Churchill's famous quote. His calm demeanor and shy personality didn't keep him from speaking out boldly once they knew they were finals bound. He said "We've got four more to win. We'll do it this time." That is determination. Coach Pop, Tim Duncan and the entire San Antonio Spurs have been determined. They refuse to let another championship slip by. The past is the past. When each and every player speaks, they speak with one goal in mind. Nothing more; nothing less. We are here to win a championship. We all are savoring this amazing time with the Spurs. But don't miss the valuable lessons of leadership, hard will, determination, grit, overcoming adversity and fortitude demonstrated by our Spurs. Last year, at this time, our Spurs team were devastated. Undone. Heartbroken. Can you imagine watching Game 6 over and over and over in the first team practice of the year?
You and I have also had our "Game Sixes" in our own life. Those times where we've been brought to the end of ourselves. So devastated that we wondered how we would pick ourselves up. We lacked hope. We didn't see a future or hope. We could only see the problem, the issue, the hurt, the pain that somehow got way too big. How do we get past this?
We can not only be proud of our Spurs, but learn from them. Their Game 6 could have forever haunted them. But it didn't. They were determined to move on. To rise about it. To learn from it. To fight back. And they did. What about you? How have you experienced devastation? Defeat? Discouragement? Our God is in the business of helping pick us up from our game sixes of life. He is able to give you a future and a hope. But you must also be determined to do your best as well. As you start your day, name your defeat. Ask God to help give you help and hope for a new beginning. Partner with God to rise above your circumstance. Seek out a trusted friend to confide and share your need. God is big enough to help you get through ANYTHING. There is no Game Six that He can't help you get through. Just ask our NBA Champions....the San Antonio Spurs!!!!!!!
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Lessons from the Spurs
It's a special time in San Antonio these days. Most of us realize that we are blessed beyond measure with a special coach and special team. We are enjoying the success of the San Antonio Spurs and even the non-Spur fan can't help but respect what they see from afar. Let's start with the Spur's coach. Coach Pop was an Air Force officer who served our country. He is indubitably a 'without wax' kind of guy. He doesn't try to impress. He inspires each member of his team to be their best. He doesn't care what people think of him, because he's confident in who he is. He sees through duplicity and prefers to cut to the chase in interviews. His humor and fun spirit still comes through, which makes him so likeable. Recently, he was named one of the top 50 Greatest Leaders of all time by CNN.
This year's San Antonio Spurs team is one of the best ever. They have dealt with a ton of injuries and maladies that required rest and time outs. They rose above their trials and pushed through the difficult times. They kept their focus and did not succumb during the challenges. The bench stepped up and worked extra hard to be their very best. And they were. The Spurs still won more games than any other team in the NBA. They play good-to-great basketball, not going for the good shot, but waiting for the great one. They break records for their numbers of assists. They are often seen as a boring, no thrills team. Not much gossip to gossip about. None of them seek a name for themselves and long for the glory. They work in a system where getting the best stats is trumped by playing team basketball. Coach Pop controls minutes for a greater purpose...rest and refreshment to go the distance. And now, here we are in the midst of an exciting time.
I know the San Antonio Spurs will not always be this good. There will be a sad day in time when Timmy takes off his shoes and rides into the basketball sunset. Coach Pop might be trotting about 10 steps behind. Manu will stop leaping and throwing crazy passes across the court. Parker will actually get old too and spin less. We want to bottle this all up, put a ribbon on it and hope it never changes. But it will. Life goes on.
But, I was thinking....the best way we can tie it all up and put a ribbon on it, is to live out the character that we see exemplified in our Spurs. What not a better way to carry on this great tradition by living some of the same values today? Are you really confident in who you are? Are you growing to be the best leader you can be? Do you live with duplicity or are you the real deal? Do you care and respect your fellow team mates? Do you seek fame and notoriety or simply want to serve? Do you make humility a way of life or fall into the trap of being prideful? Do you speak well of those around you or look for ways to criticize others? Many of the qualities we see in the Spurs are qualities that we see encouraged in the Bible. Humility. Confidence. Care for one another. Respect. Being real. Rising above trials. No gossip. Serving. Leading well. How about you? No matter how far we go in the playoffs, we can carry on this great tradition. One life at a time. It starts with you. Go Spurs Go!
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
This year's San Antonio Spurs team is one of the best ever. They have dealt with a ton of injuries and maladies that required rest and time outs. They rose above their trials and pushed through the difficult times. They kept their focus and did not succumb during the challenges. The bench stepped up and worked extra hard to be their very best. And they were. The Spurs still won more games than any other team in the NBA. They play good-to-great basketball, not going for the good shot, but waiting for the great one. They break records for their numbers of assists. They are often seen as a boring, no thrills team. Not much gossip to gossip about. None of them seek a name for themselves and long for the glory. They work in a system where getting the best stats is trumped by playing team basketball. Coach Pop controls minutes for a greater purpose...rest and refreshment to go the distance. And now, here we are in the midst of an exciting time.
I know the San Antonio Spurs will not always be this good. There will be a sad day in time when Timmy takes off his shoes and rides into the basketball sunset. Coach Pop might be trotting about 10 steps behind. Manu will stop leaping and throwing crazy passes across the court. Parker will actually get old too and spin less. We want to bottle this all up, put a ribbon on it and hope it never changes. But it will. Life goes on.
But, I was thinking....the best way we can tie it all up and put a ribbon on it, is to live out the character that we see exemplified in our Spurs. What not a better way to carry on this great tradition by living some of the same values today? Are you really confident in who you are? Are you growing to be the best leader you can be? Do you live with duplicity or are you the real deal? Do you care and respect your fellow team mates? Do you seek fame and notoriety or simply want to serve? Do you make humility a way of life or fall into the trap of being prideful? Do you speak well of those around you or look for ways to criticize others? Many of the qualities we see in the Spurs are qualities that we see encouraged in the Bible. Humility. Confidence. Care for one another. Respect. Being real. Rising above trials. No gossip. Serving. Leading well. How about you? No matter how far we go in the playoffs, we can carry on this great tradition. One life at a time. It starts with you. Go Spurs Go!
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Spurs: One Thing!
The Finals are here! What an exciting time for the city of San Antonio! A happy mood prevails around the river city, whether you're pumping gas or shopping at HEB. Our small town San Antonio market has become a household name. Everybody is talking about the games, the Spurs, the Heat, the heat and the cramps.
Remember post-game after the Spurs beat OKC in overtime to win the Western Conference title? Duncan was asked about playing for the championship against the Heat for the second year in a row. "We have more games to win," Duncan said to TNT's David Aldridge. "We'll do it this time." That statement was analyzed, rehashed, scrutinized and studied by sports talk people non-stop. Timmy just meant what Timmy said. We'll do it this time. Simple. What's all the hoopla about?
In the midst of the free-for-all-frenzy that accompanies the NBA finals, it's so cool to see a team that keeps first things first. They are not distracted by the glitz and glamour. They refuse to get caught up in the trash talk. They don't care about what people think. They're not bound by getting statistics, records and personal accomplishments in a game. They want one thing...to win the NBA championship.
There is so much to learn from our Spurs. Coach Pop, as leader, has taught this mindset through the years. He models it for all to see. Keep focusing on your goal. Don't get distracted. Don't get caught up in all the stuff. Focus. Keep the main thing the main thing. OK, let's be honest. That's not easy. We're so human. When was the last time you longed for approval by the important people around you? How do you handle the naysayers who don't think you're all that impressive? How do you remain cool, calm and collected in the midst of mistake after mistake? When being blatantly judged or criticized unjustly, how do you remain confident and unaffected?
For me, I am constantly in need of a re-focus. I need Jesus. When I start looking at the people around me, and comparing how I match up, I fall flat. The longer I live, the more I see how we humans can become SO affected by people around us. What THEY think. What THEY do. How THEY compare to us. Whether THEY like us or not. So what? What does God say?
In Hebrews Chapter 12, the Christian life is compared to a race. It was written to encourage believers who were facing great persecution to stay the course and fix their eyes on the perfect example, Jesus. Jesus overcame every life obstacle known to man. Stay focused on the goal. Don't give in to the trash talk of your mind. Stop comparing your lot in life with someone else. Move from those that judge and criticize. Follow Christ's example of loving people well. And for the Spurs? One thing. Win the championship!
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Remember post-game after the Spurs beat OKC in overtime to win the Western Conference title? Duncan was asked about playing for the championship against the Heat for the second year in a row. "We have more games to win," Duncan said to TNT's David Aldridge. "We'll do it this time." That statement was analyzed, rehashed, scrutinized and studied by sports talk people non-stop. Timmy just meant what Timmy said. We'll do it this time. Simple. What's all the hoopla about?
In the midst of the free-for-all-frenzy that accompanies the NBA finals, it's so cool to see a team that keeps first things first. They are not distracted by the glitz and glamour. They refuse to get caught up in the trash talk. They don't care about what people think. They're not bound by getting statistics, records and personal accomplishments in a game. They want one thing...to win the NBA championship.
There is so much to learn from our Spurs. Coach Pop, as leader, has taught this mindset through the years. He models it for all to see. Keep focusing on your goal. Don't get distracted. Don't get caught up in all the stuff. Focus. Keep the main thing the main thing. OK, let's be honest. That's not easy. We're so human. When was the last time you longed for approval by the important people around you? How do you handle the naysayers who don't think you're all that impressive? How do you remain cool, calm and collected in the midst of mistake after mistake? When being blatantly judged or criticized unjustly, how do you remain confident and unaffected?
For me, I am constantly in need of a re-focus. I need Jesus. When I start looking at the people around me, and comparing how I match up, I fall flat. The longer I live, the more I see how we humans can become SO affected by people around us. What THEY think. What THEY do. How THEY compare to us. Whether THEY like us or not. So what? What does God say?
In Hebrews Chapter 12, the Christian life is compared to a race. It was written to encourage believers who were facing great persecution to stay the course and fix their eyes on the perfect example, Jesus. Jesus overcame every life obstacle known to man. Stay focused on the goal. Don't give in to the trash talk of your mind. Stop comparing your lot in life with someone else. Move from those that judge and criticize. Follow Christ's example of loving people well. And for the Spurs? One thing. Win the championship!
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Lessons from the Spurs
It's a great time to live in San Antonio. Most of us realize that we are blessed beyond measure with a special coach and special team. We are enjoying the success of the San Antonio Spurs and even the non-Spur fan can't help but respect what they see from afar. Let's start with the Spur's coach. Coach Pop was an Air Force officer who served our country. He is indubitably a 'without wax' kind of guy. He doesn't try to impress. He inspires each member of his team to be their best. He doesn't care what people think of him, because he's confident in who he is. He sees through duplicity and prefers to cut to the chase in interviews. His humor and fun spirit still comes through, which makes him so likeable. Recently, he was named one of the top 50 Greatest Leaders of all time by CNN.
This year's San Antonio Spurs team is one of the best ever. They have dealt with a ton of injuries and maladies that required rest and time outs. They rose above their trials and pushed through the difficult times. They kept their focus and did not succumb during the challenges. The bench stepped up and worked extra hard to be their very best. And they were. The Spurs still won more games than any other team in the NBA. They play good-to-great basketball, not going for the good shot, but waiting for the great one. They break records for their numbers of assists. They are often seen as a boring, no thrills team. Not much gossip to gossip about. None of them seek a name for themselves and long for the glory. They work in a system where getting the best stats is trumped by playing team basketball. Coach Pop controls minutes for a greater purpose...rest and refreshment to go the distance. And now, here we are in the midst of an exciting time.
I know the San Antonio Spurs will not always be this good. There will be a sad day in time when Timmy takes off his shoes and rides into the basketball sunset. Coach Pop might be trotting about 10 steps behind. Manu will stop leaping and throwing crazy passes across the court. Parker will actually get old too and spin less. We want to bottle this all up, put a ribbon on it and hope it never changes. But it will. Life goes on.
But, I was thinking....the best way we can tie it all up and put a ribbon on it, is to live out the character that we see exemplified in our Spurs. What not a better way to carry on this great tradition by living some of the same values today? Are you really confident in who you are? Are you growing to be the best you can be? Are you the real deal or settle for living with duplicity? Do you care and respect your fellow team mates? Do you seek fame and notoriety or simply want to serve? Do you make humility a way of life or fall into the trap of being prideful? Do you speak well of those around you or look for ways to criticize others? Many of the qualities we see in the Spurs are qualities that we see encouraged in the Bible. Humility. Confidence. Caring for one another. Respect. Being real. Rising above trials. No gossip. Serving. Leading well. How about you? No matter how far we go in the playoffs, we can carry on this great tradition. One life at a time. It starts with you. Go Spurs Go!
This year's San Antonio Spurs team is one of the best ever. They have dealt with a ton of injuries and maladies that required rest and time outs. They rose above their trials and pushed through the difficult times. They kept their focus and did not succumb during the challenges. The bench stepped up and worked extra hard to be their very best. And they were. The Spurs still won more games than any other team in the NBA. They play good-to-great basketball, not going for the good shot, but waiting for the great one. They break records for their numbers of assists. They are often seen as a boring, no thrills team. Not much gossip to gossip about. None of them seek a name for themselves and long for the glory. They work in a system where getting the best stats is trumped by playing team basketball. Coach Pop controls minutes for a greater purpose...rest and refreshment to go the distance. And now, here we are in the midst of an exciting time.
I know the San Antonio Spurs will not always be this good. There will be a sad day in time when Timmy takes off his shoes and rides into the basketball sunset. Coach Pop might be trotting about 10 steps behind. Manu will stop leaping and throwing crazy passes across the court. Parker will actually get old too and spin less. We want to bottle this all up, put a ribbon on it and hope it never changes. But it will. Life goes on.
But, I was thinking....the best way we can tie it all up and put a ribbon on it, is to live out the character that we see exemplified in our Spurs. What not a better way to carry on this great tradition by living some of the same values today? Are you really confident in who you are? Are you growing to be the best you can be? Are you the real deal or settle for living with duplicity? Do you care and respect your fellow team mates? Do you seek fame and notoriety or simply want to serve? Do you make humility a way of life or fall into the trap of being prideful? Do you speak well of those around you or look for ways to criticize others? Many of the qualities we see in the Spurs are qualities that we see encouraged in the Bible. Humility. Confidence. Caring for one another. Respect. Being real. Rising above trials. No gossip. Serving. Leading well. How about you? No matter how far we go in the playoffs, we can carry on this great tradition. One life at a time. It starts with you. Go Spurs Go!
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