Leadership Thought: I Want to like John Wooden, George Whitefield and Dick Winters.

Dear Friends,

One of my favorite books is titled “Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success.” The late Wooden, is still today acknowledged as the most successful college coach of all time. He was not only famous for his coaching ability, but also for creating the “Pyramid of Success,” a list of 15 qualities that people need to be successful in any walk of life. One of the cornerstones of this “pyramid or success” is industriousness. In commenting on it, he states, “I have always wanted to be the best I can be. I still do, so I work at it. My knees and hips make it difficult to walk very far or stand very long, but I keep up with a busy speaking and traveling schedule. I continue to meet with individuals during the week. And I still answer every letter I receive. I used to read more than I do now. My eyes are failing some. I don’t remember quite as well as I once did; my memory is going, too. But I will continue to do the best I can with what I have. Although I don’t know any other 94-year old’s who work as hard as I do, that is not the point. The only competition I have is with myself. Even at 94 I want to be the best I can be, and hard work is the only way to make this happen.” (Coach Wooden’s  Pyramid of Success), John Wooden and Jay Carty, p. 31.

Yes, at 94 coach Wooden was still going strong. Long ago he must have learned the truth that “there is no office hours for leaders.”  Proverbs 21:5 reminds us that “good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but shortcuts lead to poverty.” And the Apostle Paul exhorts us to “serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the Lord” (Ephesians 6:7).  I hope that if I live to be 95, I am still going strong in the service of the Lord. I hope that I can serve with the same enthusiasm as coach Wooden, and that I can continue to bring glory to God, even as my knees weaken, and my eyes fail, and the body begins to prepare for “Moving Day.”

When I read something like this, I am reminded of George Whitefield, a British evangelist who lived more than 200 years ago. He exhibited a great devotion to Christ. After preaching several times one day, he went to his room and prepared for bed. Then someone came and asked him to speak one more time because a crowd had gathered outside. Although very tired, he picked up a candle and said he would preach until it burned out. And hour later the flame flickered and died, and Whitefield closed in prayer and went inside. The next morning, he was found on his knees beside his bed-the flame of his earthly existence had glimmered and died. The story is taken from the devotional “Our Daily Bread.”

The writer of the devotional concludes with these comments. As believers we are called to be faithful in representing the Lord Jesus until life is over, no matter how limited our energies. This does not mean we should drive ourselves to an early grave. But, even when we retire from our jobs, there are still opportunities to grow spiritually, serve others, and be a witness for Christ.”

I have a friend, Dick Winters, who at 91 is still serving our church faithfully as a member of our trustees. He too has learned that you are never too old to serve the Lord.

Let each of us “work wholeheartedly as if we were serving the Lord,” for the fact is we are, and since we are, let’s do it in a way that would be honoring of Him.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom