Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, “That person has…IT?” The “IT” being, they seem to have it all together – a successful career, a really nice house, a high-end car, and maybe even perfect kids. They just have “IT”…everything and then some. Or maybe you’ve met someone who is just really great at what they do, sort of like an exceptional quarterback like Tom Brady (I know…forget the deflate gate for a minute) or a Patton Manning who seem to be far above everyone else skill-wise? They seem to have “IT” too. Well, I want to talk about another kind of “IT”, and it isn’t about the successful career, the nice house, the perfect kids, or the athletic prowess. This “IT” is the kind where you meet someone and know right away that they are different, and it has nothing to do with their success or possessions.
My kids have all played various youth sports growing up. So, we have had a lot of different youth coaches over the years who were almost always parents of one of the other players. After going through many different youth sports with my oldest kids, we signed my youngest son up for his first season of baseball many years ago. And that is when I met someone for the first time who had the “IT” factor – my son’s first baseball coach.
Like all the previous youth coaches our kids had when they played sports, this coach was also a parent of one of the players. He actually knew a lot about the sport and had played in college. The kids had a great first practice and when it was over, he called them all around in a circle. He started to talk about his philosophy on baseball and how he would coach the team. He went around to each and every player very enthusiastically and pointed out one thing every player had done well. It was an incredibly positive experience (he carried a clipboard around at every practice and every game and tracked at least one thing that each kid had done well). After talking to every kid and offering positive feedback, he talked about respect. He told the kids that if they didn’t respect their parents, then they wouldn’t respect him as a coach. He told the kids they needed to be helpful around the house, and if their parents asked them to do something they should do it with a cheerful heart and to be a good “teammate.” He also talked about not fighting with any siblings and to help them, care about them, and be respectful to them. He was very positive, had a great message, and delivered that message with care, enthusiasm, and…love. We walked away from that first practice thinking how positive it was, how this man would be a really great coach for our son’s first experience with baseball, and just what a nice guy he was. We had this overwhelming sense after only about an hour of ever meeting this man that something was different. He had “IT.”
This “IT” factor I am referring to is having God in your life and living the example of the love he gave us. This man had the Lord in his life, and we knew it from day one. Not because he preached it, but because of how he carried himself and the way he treated everyone. As we got in our car after that first practice, my wife and I looked at each other and said something like, “This guy really has something special.” And we knew what it was…without asking.
As the season wore on and we got to know him better, it was even more clear and apparent that the Lord was central in his life and that he wanted to share Him with others. Other than normal weekly practices, once during the season our son’s coach had practice at his house. He had a batting cage set up in his backyard and there was a large field across the street where the kids could practice throwing, catching, and fielding grounders. He started the practice at his house with a short prayer and a short bible passage reading. For this man, the “IT” factor seemed to flow naturally and easily. But he was not in-your-face about it at all. It was genuine and sincere.
So why as Christians is it sometimes so hard for us to show that “IT” factor in our lives? We seem to struggle in so many ways with sharing our faith and being the kind of people we know and want to be. I know I do! You know, I once heard that if someone has to ask you if you are a Christian or has to ask you if you have Christ in your life, then you must not be showing the “IT” factor. When I talk to people and meet people, I want them to know without them having to ask…and without me having to say it…that I am a man of the Lord. I know I have a LONG way to go myself.
So how do we as people of faith (whatever faith that may be) do a better job of this? How do we show that we have “IT?” The way we carry ourselves day-to-day through our actions (or inactions) and the words we use is a good place to start. Are you respectful to others? Are you kind and considerate? Are you patient? When you talk to others is it with a joyful heart? How did you talk and interact with someone you didn’t know today? With your own children? With your spouse and friends?
After the baseball season was over, we learned my son’s coach would be moving his son to another league so that they could be closer to where they lived. But this one person I encountered for this brief period of time in my life…one baseball season…showed me something about myself that I needed to work on. What can you start working on today so that you can show the “IT” factor in your life – naturally and unspoken?
-Mike
