Great article, JVL, although I'm a bit puzzled as to why I find it so fascinating. I'm genetically predisposed to think the whole club sports thing is batshit crazy, considering I was so unathletic as to be one of the last kids picked for teams in gym class all through grade school. The embarrassment did push me toward academic achievement instead. But guess what? Somebody was always smarter or more accomplished in that arena too. If you base your self-worth on what you do, rather than who you are, in my case as a child of God, you are headed toward discontentment at best and pathology at worst. Case in point, TFG. I'm a parent, and thankfully my kids were more athletic than I, which placed them squarely at average ability. However, I believe them to be delightful people who are kind, decent, and hard-working. What do we really want our kids to be? If it's contentment you want for them then striving for status or stuff will prove to be an empty bag. Far better to focus on people and service.
Great article, JVL, although I'm a bit puzzled as to why I find it so fascinating. I'm genetically predisposed to think the whole club sports thing is batshit crazy, considering I was so unathletic as to be one of the last kids picked for teams in gym class all through grade school. The embarrassment did push me toward academic achievement instead. But guess what? Somebody was always smarter or more accomplished in that arena too. If you base your self-worth on what you do, rather than who you are, in my case as a child of God, you are headed toward discontentment at best and pathology at worst. Case in point, TFG. I'm a parent, and thankfully my kids were more athletic than I, which placed them squarely at average ability. However, I believe them to be delightful people who are kind, decent, and hard-working. What do we really want our kids to be? If it's contentment you want for them then striving for status or stuff will prove to be an empty bag. Far better to focus on people and service.