How easy is it to lose perspective in sports? How easy is it to be driven by motives that do not align with Kingdom values? This is so true for those that we are ministering to and probably for you as a chaplain as well. I’m a chaplain but also coach my daughters' youth sports team. This week I have been reminded to ask myself, “What are the values that I want to be about in coaching?” “Why am I coaching?” Those two questions led me to reflect on Romans 12:1–2 this week. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” I was reminded that the reason I coach is to worship and enjoy God. The reason I coach is to know Jesus more and to serve the girls and their families that I am coaching with the gifts God has given me. I serve them by teaching them the game of soccer, by teaching them skills for their sport and also in being good teammates, by caring about them and their lives, by encouraging and getting to know them, ultimately asking the Lord to show me ways to point them to Jesus and stepping into those God ordained opportunities. However, this week the Holy Spirit has convicted me that I have lost perspective on why I am coaching. This past Saturday I found myself coaching against a friend of mine who has a very good team. I really wanted our girls to do well, and I really wanted to win. Those can be good things, but I made them ultimate things and lost my vision of “why” I was coaching. I was too intense, too critical, and too reactive. This week has been a good opportunity to remember why I coach. Tomorrow is a new day to coach and God’s mercies are new every morning. I share that to remind you that those we are caring for in sports, like myself, can easily lose perspective. Like every Christian, we need to be reminded of why we do what we do and also of the daily grace available each day in Christ for forgiveness and strength to play and serve him through sport. Pray for me that, by God’s grace, I can coach tomorrow with a Kingdom perspective and find joy doing it for the Lord! How can I pray for you and your chaplaincy ministry?

Posted by Hudson Belk at 2023-09-29 15:39:53 UTC