63 Seconds

So, Coach Pop made headlines this week with a new record. He was thrown out of the Spurs-Nuggets game in record time, 63 seconds. 

So, only 63 seconds, Pop? What??? I’m not sure his techs were legit, but who am I to say? We all have been in Pop’s shoes. We want to make a wrong right and we react. Self-control is NOT easy. We can be our worst enemy.

How do you practice self-control? I think we begin by celebrating those areas of our life where we actually HAVE self-control. We know that self-control is possible, because we’re experiencing it! We might find it easy to exercise each day or eat healthy or limit online activity. But, usually, there are several culprit areas of our life where we’re NOT so good at self-control. We usually like to avoid those areas! Cussing at the car that cut you off. Surfing the web for an hour at work. Allowing negativity to affect your work. Gossiping about someone at work. Keeping a budget. Let’s admit it, self-control isn’t easy!

I was so intrigued by getting a handle on self-control, that I bought a book written by a fellow twitter dude, Drew Dyck. His book is called “Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self- Control from the Bible and Brain Science.” Dyck writes “Self-control isn’t the sexiest topic. After all, people don’t write songs about self-control. It doesn’t grab headlines. It won’t spark controversy. In fact, when self-control is functioning properly, it helps people avoid scandal and embarrassment. It’s an invisible virtue operating behind the scenes to sustain a healthy, holy life.” (pp. 213, Drew Dyck)

Cultivating self-control has the potential to improve your own life and bless those you know and love. That’s right, your self-control habits affects others, for sure! Seek to live a life marked by self-control. As Drew Dyck writes, “Your future self will thank you. And others will too.”

“O God, help us to be the masters of ourselves that we may be servants of others.” Sir Alec Paterson

“Now more than ever, one moment can destroy- in one day-your life’s work. The essential virtue: self-control. You can have all the talent in the world, and draw a ton of attention for it, but if your ability is not matched by strong character, you are in a precarious place. A lack of self-control has dire consequences. It’s not just politicians and pastors who need to heed his warning. For all of us, even a momentary break in willpower can cause irreversible damage.”  Owen Strachan

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.