Nature teaches us the meshing of intensity and calm that create beautiful outcomes. The intensity of a rapidly flowing river along with the calm of a windswept desert created the Grand Canyon. The intensity of an ocean wave on a well-used beach creates a calm, smooth-sanded beach for another day of play. It's the intensity of autumn winds that prepare a tree for a dormant
winter of calm and ready it for the newness of spring. God had great outcomes in mind when He created the opposing forces of intensity and calm in order to display these wonders.
The ability to become a calm center in a potentially explosive situation is a necessary part of successful coaching. The opposite action would be to step out into the whirl of the fray and become part of its all-consuming power. Taking this action means the possibility of calm going out the window of despair. In contrast, answering the frantic questions of an intense player like "what's wrong?" or "why can't we get ahead?" requires a steady and reassuring response from the coach saying, "Trust me, and do what we have practiced."
Both an intense focus on the game along with a calm resolve to follow the plan are required of coaches and players. These two responses are equally important to successfully move the team forward.
Quite often I find myself reacting like an intense player regarding the storms of life. Frantic questions like “why this loss?" or "why this struggle?” invade my being and threaten my calm.
"They who have steeped their soul in prayer can every anguish calmly bear."
Richard Milnes, English Poet
It is in these moments that my Heavenly Father speaks these words of assurance to my soul, “Shhhh, child. You wouldn't understand if I explained it to you...just trust Me!” With this reassurance comes an INTENSE CALM and I move ahead with a confident and quiet spirit. David the Psalmist spoke of this when he wrote...
"I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself..." Psalm 131:1-2
Are you in a hurricane today? May the peace of God bring you into the eye of the storm quieting your spirit with INTENSE CALM.
Blessings...as you allow the intensity of today to be subdued by God's calming spirit.
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