Written by: Sean Johnson
During an interview, famous NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo was asked about "ego" and how to handle it. To paraphrase, he said, he believes that when he focuses on his accomplishments from the past, that is his ego. When he focuses on the future, that is his pride, but he tries to focus on the present and live in the moment and that is where humility is found. He goes on to say that this is a skill that he is trying to perfect. I've never thought of humility as a skill, but in a way that is exactly what it is. I believe pride and selfishness is our human default. Humility is not something we can manufacture on our own. With a lot of practice and God's help, true humility is possible.
In my profession of strength and conditioning, my main objective is to prepare the athletes for their sport. This can look different depending on the time of year and the individual and is not done overnight but rather over months and years. As we all know, after 4 years a senior looks a lot different than the freshman that showed up on day one. Being intentional and showing up ready to work over the years makes the difference. Admittedly some are better than others at accomplishing this, but everyone has the potential and opportunity to grow. The work will more than likely be uncomfortable and not easy, but is essential for the growth of the individual.
The Bible mentions humility and being humble as a general theme of how we are to live. It is something when looking at the life of Jesus that he embodied to the fullest. Colossians 3:12 says, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, HUMILITY, gentleness and patience." The act of putting on clothes is something we do daily, and is not something we receive simply because we are followers of Jesus. Oddly enough, clothing yourself is a skill that is learned overtime. I get to watch my four-year old son put his head through an arm sleeve or put both his legs in one side of his pants and what we might find funny can be very frustrating to him. Every day he is getting to practice the skill of getting dressed and he has become pretty good at it. As Christian rapper, Lecrae recently said, "no one drifts into the pool of selflessness, no one drifts into the pool of humility that is something you need to swim toward". Obviously, this is easier said than done, but again being uncomfortable is an essential key to growth.
As coaches, your job is mostly defined by wins and losses, so there is no room for humility from the world's point of view. In today's public square where humility seems to be non-existent or a rare find among most people, it starts with us as leaders of young men and women to model and demonstrate humility. Don't get me wrong, I want to win as many championships and develop a championship mindset in all the athletes I get to work with, but I believe the starting point is humility. Being in constant pursuit of Jesus is being in a constant pursuit of humility. Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."
