Locker Room Talk

John Wooden was one of the winnest basketball coaches, ever.  Why in 27 seasons, Wooden led the UCLA Bruins to 10 NCAA championships, winning 620 games, mentoring the likes of Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor, better known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

But John Wooden was also known as a man of impeccable character -- in spite of spending a lot of time in locker rooms.   For John Wooden redefined locker room talk, not as an opportunity for filth, but an opportunity for virtue.

Don Yaeger remembers the end of his first practice with the Bruins, as they sat in the UCLA locker room.

"Please take off your shoes and socks," Coach announced to the team, seating himself upon a locker room bench.  "I'm going to show you the proper way to put them back on"...  "  Now, when you pull on your sock," he said showing them through example, "I want you to make sure that there are no wrinkles or gaps," as he put his own socks on. "Make sure your heel is full seated in the heel of the sock; run your hand over the toes and make sure to smooth out any bumpy areas." Then he showed each player how to properly lace his shoes and tie them snugly so that there was no room for the shoe to rub or the sock to bunch up.

As Coach Wooden got up to leave the locker room for the gym, the players behind him were silent,...wondering what their coach could possibly be doing by starting out the season talking about shoes and socks...Just then, Coach Wooden...[turned around] with a glint in his eye, [and said]: 'That's your first lesson. You see, if there are wrinkles in your socks or your shoes aren't tied properly, you will develop blisters. With blisters, you'll miss practice. If you miss practice, you don't play. And if you don't play, we cannot win.  "If you want to win Championships, you must take care of the smallest of details." [And with that, the] Coach then walked away, his first practice complete. " http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs080/1101703621719/archive/1102765393436.html

Frankly, if you want to win anything, you have to take care of the smallest of details.  Including the details of one's private, personal being, better known as character.

In his landmark book, The Road To Character, New York Time columnist David Brooks defines character as 'eulogy values':  "....the virtues you want talked about at your funeral, the ones that exist at the core of your being -- whether you are kind, brave, honest or faithful; what kind of relationships you formed..."  Such virtues are in contrast to resume virtues, which Brooks defines as "...the skills that you bring to the job market and that contribute to external success..."  David Brooks, The Road To Character (New York:  Random House, 2015) xi.   Access it at Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Road-Character-David-Brooks/dp/0812983416/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476198175&sr=8-1&keywords=david+brooks -- or -- go directly to the Road to Character website: http://theroadtocharacter.com/

Brooks goes on to confess:  he's spent a lot of time focusing on resume virtues; I have too, for external success mean a lot to me -- too much.  But, ironically, when folks give me feedback on my life and career, they don't mention my external success (e.g. resume virtues): my grand sermons, impressive church growth, or savvy leadership skills.  They talk about my character:  "You cared for us -- driving all the way from Baltimore, MD. to Petersburg, W.VA. to do a  5-minute graveside service for my grandmother. / "You sacrificed for us -- coming right away when we called you at 3 am, after our granddaughter suddenly died." /  "You loved us -- at our worst after we got the news of our son's bone cancer and walked with us through his leg amputation and beyond." 

Can I be honest:  apart of me doesn't like, that this is what people value; I want people to value 'the big stuff' I've done.  But 'the big stuff' isn't what really changes human life; it's 'the little stuff '-- or to quote John Wooden, 'the details.'

Last Friday I heard two of my favorite historians: Ron White and James McPherson.  The occasion was the launch of Ron's new book, American Ulysses, a new biography of U.S. Grant. The event was ably hosted by the Presbyterian Historical Society, who made available, a variety of promotional materials, including the Society's bookmark.  Now you'd think that a church historical society's bookmark would feature a quote and portrait from a 'larger than life' figure in church history.  Not so; rather the Presbyterian Historical Society's bookmark featured a quote and portrait from a humble, recent public figure:  Fred Rogers, better known as Mr. Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. And the quote; not grand words, lifting us resume virtues -- but gracious words, underscoring eulogy virtues -- as Rogers reflected on the greatest event in American history.   

"...the greatest event in American history...I suspect that like so many 'great' events, it was something very simple and very quiet with little or no fanfare (such as someone forgiving someone else for a deep hurt that eventually changed the course of history). The really important 'great' things are never center stage of life's dramas; they're always 'in the wings.' That's why it's so essential for us to be mindful of the humble and the deep rather than the flashy and the superficial."

It is my persistent prayer that individually, and as a nation, we'll move -- increasingly -- toward the humble and the deep, rather than the flashy and superficial.  For whether it's the debacle of the current presidential election -- or -- the tragedy of our own sinful, misappropriated lives -- we need a revival of eulogy values -- and a renewed emphasis on character.

For in every venue, we need new talk -- be it the locker room, the board room, the school room, or the family room.  Our speech must be consistent.  The Apostle Paul guides us.   

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up... Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice...There must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed...Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving...Let no one deceive you with empty words...For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light."   (Ephesians 4:29-32 / Ephesians 5:1-8).

In every venue, on every occasion -- live as children of light.