Think About Champions Instead!
The terms “winners: and “losers” has been used over and over again for quite some time now. However, like most labels the terms “winners” and “losers” are often misleading at best and more typically fairly useless. Their descriptive accuracy is limited at best and distorted at worst. In common with other labels, these terms more often than not hide and distort rather than illuminate and reveal.
Instead of these terms, let me suggest the word “champion”. Champions are described and determined by their character and not the outcome of a particular event. A champion can lose and still be a champion. A person can win and not even come close to being considered a champion. Simply put, those who only focus on winning don't get what it means to be a champion. Unfortunately, as a result, we often hear ridiculous comments like “if you're not cheating, you're not trying hard enough to win”, “whatever it takes to win” or misrepresentations of the great football coach Vince Lombardi’s comment on “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”. Even a cursory examination of the lives of his players’ accomplishments both on the football field and in life reveals that he built champions and that is why they succeeded in football and life after their football playing days were over.
Champions come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Here are just a few that come to mind immediately: Bob Dole, the wounded WWII vet and politician; John Lewis, the Georgia Congressman and Civil Rights Icon; Jim Abbot the one handed major league pitcher, Annie Glenn, the stuttering wife of Senator John Glenn who gave a speech to a large crowd because her husband could not be present; countless veterans who have made incredible sacrifices up to and including their lives for the benefit of others; more doctors and nurses than we could possibly mention in this COVD-19 pandemic; and on and on. Some champions are famous, but the vast majority are not, outside the circle of lives they have touched.
Champions are not perfect. They are often the first to tell you so. The heart of a champion is something to behold. Champions typically have these qualities of character:
Instead of whining and blaming others, they focus on becoming better and improving.
Instead of giving up and quitting, they look for ways to learn and grow.
Instead of shrinking from adversity, they find ways to let it make them stronger.
Instead of focusing on disappointment, they search for ways to be grateful and gracious.
They understand defeat and failure as opportunities to learn and improve.
They learn from the past to be better able to see opportunity in the future.
They are hopeful, resilient and refuse to quit or give up.
They refuse to compromise their core values.
They are committed, humble, team players and focused more on others than themselves.
They focus their energy and attention on what they can control – not what they can’t.
They stand up to big challenges relentlessly.
Champions are extraordinary leaders and leave a lasting impact. Most of all I believe champions are one of God’s many gifts to us.
Grace and Peace, John
Thanksgiving Outreach to Our Homeless Neighbors
On both Sunday, November 22nd and Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day) at 1:00 pm, Palmetto Presbyterian Church will be dropping off 30 Turkey Dinners at Sutton Park.
Also joining us will be a representative from the Manatee County YMCA distributing “Blessing Bags.” In the bags there will be blankets, socks and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment.)
If you would like to help in some way (financially or otherwise) please contact Joan Bryden for more information at: outreach@ppcfl.org