A Coach's Testimony

June Jones gave a one-hour talk at our church yesterday morning during the adult Sunday School hour. Mr. Jones, who is the head football coach for SMU, gave a testimony about the impact that Christ has had on his life and the ways that his faith has influenced him, both personally and professionally.

I was completely blown away by Coach Jones' talk. He combined funny stories about his football career and other meaningful experiences he has had, all the while weaving powerful messages about faith and what he believes truly matters in life. After sharing some of his experiences on the path to achieving his dream of playing football in the NFL, Coach Jones described how he felt on the evening that he finally became a member of the Atlanta Falcons football team. Coach Jones said that while he felt proud that he had achieved his long-standing dream, he was surprised at how lonely he was and how little the accomplishment actually mattered in the overall scheme of life. In his words, Coach Jones said that achieving his ultimate career goal only made him realize that "if you don't live with the love of God in your heart and the joy to share that with others, your professional success is all for naught."

Coach Jones also shared seven cornerstones of daily living that he said were passed on to him by another coach who was a powerful influence in his life, Coach John Wooden of UCLA.

1. Be true to yourself. Know who you are and do not try to be someone you are not.

2. Help others. True joy comes from helping others rather than focusing on yourself.

3. Make each day a masterpiece.

4. Drink deeply from books. Read voraciously, especially from the Bible.

5. Make friendship an art. Friends are valuable and precious, a true joy in life. Work to maintain friendships to keep them strong.

6. Build a shelter (of friends) for the rainy days and valleys (low points) in life. Use your friends for support when you need them most.

7. Pray for guidance and give thanks daily for all your blessings.

I didn't go into Sunday School yesterday expecting much but I left with such a sense of joy and fulfillment after hearing Mr. Jones' talk. He was a great speaker and he shared a powerful message. I love the seven principles outlined above and think they are important to remember and to share with others.