Character Coach / Sports Chaplain Blog

Sabbatical reflections:   For the first time in my twenty-six years of serving with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, we as staff have been afforded the luxury of a thirty day paid sabbatical. Its intent is for rest, renewal, and reflection. I had been planning to take my sabbatical, now available once every three years, in the spring of 2021, but as the United States’ response to COVID-19 has led to wide shutdowns or postponements of sporting seasons, I decided to take it from mid-September through mid-October as these are likely the least busy weeks for the coming twelve months. Some reflections on the sabbatical, its shape, and its outcomes are below.   It took me a whole week to slow down. I normally go at a rapid rate with lots of energy and activity. Dealing with COVID-19 issues had slowed things down a bit already, but it still took a solid week before I had the ability to be introspective and to think deeply about some things. Tha...

Here’s another set of the emotions experienced by sports chaplains and character coaches. See if they resonate with your heart. Ambivalence – I find myself feeling rather ambivalent when encountering most of the noise on social media. Rather than being outraged, I think, “Whatever.” When friends, colleagues, family, or even the people we serve offer well-meaning distractions, we’re often left feeling ambivalent because we’re on a different path. When you feel ambivalent about the right things, take heart, you’re doing well. Disgust – When our own behavior doesn’t line up with our highest expectations, it’s normal to feel disgusted. When the terrible weakness of our flesh pops its head up and demands to be obeyed, disgust is a proper emotion. Don’t let disgust turn into self-loathing or depression. Confess, repent, and be restored. Move on. You’ll notice I didn’t mention disgust with others’ issues. Anger – When I see how sin terrorizes my friends’ lives, I’m angry. When I encou...

Those of us serving as sports chaplains or character coaches regularly experience a wide spectrum of emotions. Some simple thoughts about those emotions follow.  Elation – When our team or individuals achieve highly, when we see evidence of someone’s growth in Christ, when we observe a developmental milestone being reached by someone we serve, we are elated! These are the best of times; don’t miss them.  Disappointment – When our team experiences a last-second loss, when a friend, colleague, or someone we’re serving has a moral failure, or even when one for whom we care walks away from the faith, we encounter the bitterness of disappointment. In these moments, be sure to learn something.  Grief – More often than I would like to recall, I have walked through grief with coaches, athletes, their families, and certainly with my own family. This emotion and all that accompanies it can be a soul-cleansing agent, stripping away the clutter of trivial matters, clarifying val...