"I Am"

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I Am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:13-14

The last few weeks of my life have brought about many situations that have been exciting but several have caused me to be concerned. I have recently changed jobs and taken on the responsibility of being the head football coach and athletic director at a new school. Although I have been involved in the game of football for over 30 years, both of these positions are a new experience for me. Each day in my new job there is a decision to make that I may have never considered before and my decisions now affect many people. Over the past few weeks I have found myself being much more alert to every situation because I never want to be unprepared to react in the correct way or to speak the correct words. As many of these moments have presented themselves I have had to deal with the voices of doubt that we as humans often allow to enter our minds. While going through the tension filled days of the interview process, the thoughts would enter my mind that said, “You are not ready for this”, to which God would say, “But I Am”. After being offered and accepting the position, the initial excitement was quickly replaced with the reality of many tasks to be done and many moments that are outside of my comfort zone. While waiting to speak to a large crowd at a community event, I thought to myself, “You are not a thrilling speaker”, to which God would say, “But I Am”. The morning I would meet my new team for the first time, the thought entered my mind that said, “What if you are not the leader these young men need”, to which God would reply, “You are not, but I Am”. And, as the hopes for the coming season begin to grow, I allow my mind to wonder if I am capable of meeting and exceeding these expectations. To which God replies again, “But I Am”.

As we go through the daily struggles of life or during the exciting moments we are blessed to experience, we can have faith that the Great I Am is always with us. In Joshua 1:9 He tells us, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” And in Hebrews 13:5 He tells us, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”. When we feel as though we are alone in the world, He will remind us that I Am with you!

Chad

"Re-Excited"

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2nd Timothy 2:1


The past few weeks have been a whirlwind for me and my family. As the 2017 football season came to an end, I decided the time had come for me to begin a new chapter in my life. My wife and I talked for several days about me beginning the search for a position as a head football coach and athletic director. There were a few hurdles to overcome and I can admit that most were created by my hard head. Although I love to help others with a problem, I have never been comfortable asking others for help. However, in the coaching world, like many other professions, having someone call with a recommendation is key to getting your name out for possible positions. Also, although I am far from the end of my coaching career, I am further along in years than most coaches who are looking for their first head coaching positions.

I continued to be on the lookout for positions that may come open and after several calls by friends and colleagues, I found myself interviewing for a position that looked promising. From the time of the first interview my life sped up significantly. Within a few days of the first meeting I was invited for a second interview. On the morning following the second interview, I was offered the position. By the afternoon of that day I had agreed to the terms and was approved by the board of education on the following morning. I was standing in the principal’s office of my new school when she received a call saying I was “official”. The principal had planned to release a video welcoming me to the school, announce my name to the students, and post the news on social media. As she picked up her phone to post the news, she looked at me and said, “Are you sure you’re ready”. I quickly answered yes, but was certainly a bundle of nerves. Since that moment I have spoken to a crowd of strangers at a basketball game, attended numerous sporting events, and a few fundraisers. All of this has been exciting but all coaches know the “Honeymoon” period soon comes to an end. Although the new position and change in our lives is exciting, the reality of leaving a place we have called home for many years has brought on many emotions.

I have been blessed to coach the past eleven years in a school that my family and I grew quickly to love. Our children had both graduated from the school and each had been involved in athletics. My last season at this school would also be my 25th year as a football coach and I have had many exciting moments and made many lifelong friends and memories. But, suddenly I was in an unfamiliar position as the head coach and athletic director, while feeling equally excited. As I spent the first whirlwind day in my new position I had a few minutes to reflect over my coaching career. I quickly remembered the day I got my first paid coaching job and the feeling of being excited while also overwhelmed. I remember I got my first job and, regardless of the extremely low pay, had never been more excited. I also remembered the feeling of being overwhelmed when I considered the young men who I would be responsible for coaching and leading. Now, 25 years later, I had the same feelings of excitement and of being overwhelmed. The long lists of tasks to complete was not the overwhelming part of my new position. I knew I would adjust to the many new responsibilities but the overwhelming feeling came from thinking about the many young men who I was now responsible for leading. The sudden realization that a large group of young people will be looking to me for leadership is the overwhelming part. Throughout the first few days, as people asked about the reason for the change in jobs, I began to tell them I had not become un-excited with my old job, but was now re-excited with my new job. I also told them what a blessing it is to be as excited to begin year number 26 as I was to begin year number one.

Our Heavenly Father can also give us that feeling of being re-excited. As we awake for each new day, He promises to take the worries from the previous day and lead our actions through the new day to come, if we only ask. As each of us begin our relationship with Jesus, we get the feeling of excitement about our new hope but, over time as life’s drama interferes, we lose the feeling we had on day number one. But God will continue to renew our excitement, even during the trials and tests we may face during our days. And, 25 years later He can fill you with the same excitement for serving Him as you felt when you first met Our Savior.


Chad