One more season to coach. That’s all. And it’s about to get started.
All those basketball games; all those innings in the dugout; even one year (in Searcy) as a soccer coach.
And it comes down to one final junior league season. Then my youngest will be turned over to real coaches in high school, even as he’s already been handed over to real basketball coaches in middle school.
It’s been a good run. Nothing quite like teaching a kid to dribble, to shoot, to pass, to hit, to field a grounder, and to be a good sport.
One more season. Don’t try to reach me until about July! I’ll be at the ballpark.
- - - -
I can’t get enough of “Jacob’s Dream,” Jack Maxwell’s brilliant sculpture (and so much more) at ACU. What is it about great art that draws you to deeper places of beauty and faith? What’s the one piece of art that grabbed your soul and wouldn’t let you go?
One of my favorite little league coaches didn’t have a kid playing. You shouldn’t hang it up.
Well, I added a link to my last comment, so it’s probably awaiting moderation. I enjoy the works of Michael Parkes. He uses several themes that are repeated several times throughout his works. My favorite is one called “Gargoyles”. It is a picture of a little girl on top of a building, blowing a bubble. The stone gargoyle is leaping off of the building to catch it. I keep seeing innocence in it - it keeps me coming back.
I love quilts. They remind me that good things can come from scraps.
My 10 year old told me last night that he is proud of his dad. He named several reasons why– he teaches and preaches about Jesus– and then said he liked that dad taught him about sports and went to his basketball games, even when he could only see a little bit before heading to work. I’m not sure which will make a bigger impact on him.
Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. This masterful work was composed and conducted while Beethoven was completely deaf. The 4th movement with orchestra and mass choir (”Ode To Joy”) still move me to tears.
Our first trip to Washington DC also included a first visit to the National Museum. We had wandered around for a couple of hours at least when I turned a corner and suddenly there it was in front of me. Dali’s crucifixion from his blue period.
It was alone in an all white room at the end of a tunnel-like hallway. I was so drawn to it, yet couldn’t make myself hurry to come closer, it seemed to demand slow consideration. Mitchell caught up with me and was equally entranced with the magnificence of the painting.
We stood there glued to viewing it - couldn’t get enough of it.
In what seemed like no more than a moment, a guard tapped us on shoulders to say they were getting ready to close the museum for the day and we’d have to leave. We’d been standing there for over an hour. No painting has equally impacted me as this one did and still does in memory.
Mike-
Your post speaks to me in the background about letting go. Scriptures and spirituality are so involved with the growing up process. Always good, always rich, sometimes painful. My baby girl is a senior this year, and that will be one tough graduation Sunday. What a blessing God has given us, to give us a glimpse of how he feels about us, how he wants to Daddy us.
Celebrate the moments, my friend, but also celebrate the fact that when you are 80, you’ll still be Daddy. Nothing else quite like it.
The most beautiful structure that I have ever seen in my life was the Golden Arches in the Miami airport after being in Guyana, South America for a two week mission trip several years ago. (And I don’t really even care that much for MacDonalds)
This Saturday marks the end of my basketball coaching career. I spent four years with my son and four years with my daughter. I am grateful for every minute of every practice and every game. More than the wins and losses, I will remember the rides to and from practices and games and the great conversations I have had with my children. I will also remember the fact that my wife, the biggest non-sports fan I have ever known, learned how to keep the scorebook and watches the close games through her fingers as she tries to hide her eyes during close ball games.
I was intentional in how I coached. I tried to follow John Wooden and focus my kids on effort and execution and not on wins and losses. I found that when I did this, I coached better and the players played better. And, I talked to my players about how we are playing for Jesus (Col. 3:23-24) and not ourselves, our stats or even our school. Because of who we are playing for, my players and I expected more out of each other and our team in regards to effort and in regards to conduct. Unless something crazy happens, this Saturday, I will have coached for 8 years and not received one technical in our league. That is truly the sign of the Lord working in people’s lives today.
Parents, go to the gym or ballpark or the chess tournament. Support your kids! It is a blessing!
What blue period - what nothing? It’s simply Dali’s crucifixion. I should never come into human company before breakfast. lol
Piece of Art? My kids. I also love the painting of Daniel in the lions den by Maxwell.
Mike, you are a real coach!
I love you!
I found out very quickly that I was not a coach even though my passion in life is being around kids and sports. However, there is so much more to it than the instructional part. For three years Cheryl & I ran the concession stand at Key City Little League while our son played. We still to this day reminisce that those could be some of the best days of our lives. Then this last summer I got to be “coach” for our high school 7 on 7 team. The “coach” term was ridiculous in my case. All I did was stand on the sideline and keep score. Thats not why I was there though……we had several of our Huddle kids from Highland that were playing and it allowed me to be a little more a part of their life.
Art……I am a very simple guy with a very simple mind. Two pieces of art have had a lasting impact on me. When I read Henri Nouwens “The Prodigal” which was centered around both the story Jesus taught as well as the Rembrant masterpiece, I became intrigued by the painting. So many stories in one painting. At first when I found out Nouwen made several trips to St. Petersburg, Russia just to look at the painting and then would spend six to ten hours at a time looking at the painting I didn’t understand why. But after reading the book and then looking at the painting (even though it was just a picture of the painting), One could easily see all the sories that come out of the painting. Then there is the sculpture by Jack Maxwell, “Jacob’s Dream”. I have been so many times and looked. Each time is new. Each time new thoughts. It is absolutely magnificent ! It is a masterpiece right here in Abilene. I have often said that people will come from all around the world to see this art just like people go to St. Petersburg to see “The Prodigal”.
By the way……..for those who wonder how I can ethically take time to respond to this post at this time of the day…..I’m self employed baby…….I’m self employed !
We just finished a Sunday morning class series at Highland called God in the Arts. The concept has been really simple: we’ve asked a series of guest speakers to come in and talk to us about the way God is known and experienced in various art forms.
We’ve been blown away by presentation after presentation, mostly from Highland members such as Mike Wiggins, Adam and Donna Hester, Matt Maxwell, and Greg Straughn. We’ve also heard from the director of a local Christian ballet company.
On Sunday, we’re going to wrap things up by doing a little exercise with the last twenty minutes of one of my favorite films: Field of Dreams. Instead of looking at the film from the perspective of Hollywood or baseball, we will view it from the lens of the gospel. What is it saying about our yearnings for God’s redemptive work in the world?
There is so much going on here: a discussion about the nature of heaven (”Is this heaven…or Iowa?”), a powerful story of a father and a prodigal reunited, and a mustard-seed Kingdom, with humble beginnings to which countless people will eventually flock.
Plus, it confirms what I suspect guys like you, Mike, have suspected for a long time: in Heaven, there is lots of baseball!
Mike - have you forgotten about Senior League?? They need coaches and managers there too! Max is signed up in spite of (or in addition to) making the high school baseball team. Is there such a thing as too much baseball? The males in my house don’t think so!
I have to agree - “Jacob’s Dream” is astounding. You might ask Geoff about his experience at the Kimball viewing the famous “Blue Boy” painting by Thomas Gainsborough.
Mike — I saw (maybe “inhabited” is a better word) Jacob’s Dream again last weekend. I can’t say enough good things about it. I tell people in Houston if you would get in a car, drive 6 hours to Abilene, see Jacob’s Dream for the first time, turn around and drive 6 hours back, you would call it a “very good day”.
Ed Harrell — I too love the 9th Symphony. For several years Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis is my favorite piece of music, hands down, all genres. It was composed at the same point in Beethoven’s life as the 9th. The deaf composer subtitled it “The Greatest Work Which I Have Yet Composed” which sounds arrogant till you hear it. It addresses faith, hope, praise and despair, and concludes with a poignant “prayer for inner and outer peace”. I find that the last Agnus Dei movement moves me even more than the Ode to Joy. In 2000 I got to hear Missa performed at Notre Dame Cathedral, which has terrible acoustics, but you can’t beat the atmosphere. If this is performed in your city, RUN to get tickets, the closer the better. And let me know because if it’s in Texas I’ll try to be there.
P. S. Church of Christ folks can enjoy the fact that the text includes the statement “I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins”.
Michael
It’s “Jacob’s Dream” for me too…. I just got back from there. My cough is horrible this morning and I needed a complete distraction so I walked around and around reading each carved word of scripture as a balm. The air was brisk and moist…. rain’s coming. I began looking upward to the reaching arms and prayed for my spirit to be like those arms and then as I moved to look eastward the cross outline formed by the stone captured me. I’m grateful for Jack, his vision and his willing spirit…. truly a modern day Bezalel.
-gina
Regarding Jacob’s Ladder — Mike - I heard the ATT&T President that recently committed to donate $1.0M to ACU was moved to tears when he visited Jacob’s Ladder. Glad you’ve had the oportunity to coach. I’ve had the privilege to sit through about 100 hours of dance recitals and competitions over the past 10+ years, which is about 1/100 of what Susan has experienced. But, hey, daugther No. 1 got glowing reviews as an ACU Sing Song dance troup member last weekend.
Mike,
Boy, have I got a job for you next year. I know a LOT of baseball boys that need a good dad to help coach & cheer them on. Remember….admission is free & coaching advice is always accepted. (At least that’s what Britt tells me when I offer mine.) Seriously….the position of “role model” is wide open. Come on over.
Rob - People who run the concession stands rule the world! Honestly, how could all this happen without all the folks who flip the burgers, chalk the lines, keep the books, sit on the boards, etc.? By the way, THANKS, THANKS, THANKS for agreeing to take another huddle.
Cari - Tell me more! I’ll never coach a team that is #1 in the nation (as Britt did briefly last year for ACU), but I love it.
I smiled at reJoyce’s comment about loving quilts. Memorial Drive gave me a handmade quilt several ladies pieced together for my 10th anniversary. Each 4″ x 4″ patch was hand made by each family. Then the ladies aligned all of the squares into a very attractive quilt.
Months later we had a big upset at church and about 15 or 20 families left in a huff. So now I have a quilt which reminds me of all the people who hate me!
The end of the Shawshank Redemption. I won’t spoil it, but it involves the bluest ocean you can imagine, walking up a beach, and some of the most beautiful music I can remember.
And it inspires me because it gives me hope.
While I have many favorites, I have a theory as to why art so speaks to many souls.
God is the ultimate artist. He made the colors, the smells, the textures, the light, the shadows, the shapes, etc. We are the result of His artistic expression. He is the ultimate Creator. To unbelievers that may sound corny or even just plain stupid. But to one who truly believe…..it brings joy.
I believe He gave a sunset all those colors just because it brings us joy and causes us to pause and give praise to Him for creating it. He could have just made the sun drop and night begin. But no, He loved me enough and knows me well enough to know how much pleasure and joy all those colors would give me.
Art speaks to deep places in our souls. Sometimes it is only through art that we even realize those places exists.
A few of my moments of pure beauty:
–walking into a room in the Musee D’Orsay in Paris, the room with all the Monets. I didn’t expect it, my breath was taken away, and it brought tears to my eyes.
–Michelango’s Pieta; I couldn’t stop looking at Mother Mary’s face; she is on the verge of tears or a gentle smile and it is impossible to tell which.
–and I wouldn’t have thought of it before reading the above comments, but yes, Shawshank Redemption was stunning.
–listening to an operatic soprano perform a piece at a MLKJr memorial dinner, a simple gospel song that had words “the city foursquare”; when she hit the final high note the sound was so pure and powerful I couldn’t breathe and wiped away tears.
I was 19 years old when I first met David in Florence, Italy. Words aren’t very useful in expressing how good Renaissance art has been for my soul.
I really like the Texan Max Greiner’s life sized Divine Servant (I’ve never seen it in person - I’d really like to). The emotion on Peter’s face as he realizes what is happening
KS - you’ll like this. I saw a CNN exclusive on this young girl that claims to have visions of heaven and paints them (I’m not saying I think it’s true but who knows?). Anyway, the most interesting thing to me about the story is she claims, from her visions of heaven, that there are colors in heaven that we don’t have on earth. I really like the thought of that…
El Greco’s “Christ” that hangs in the National Gallery in Prague, Czech Republic. (A little hard to find on the net, but well worth the look…
http://www.ngprague.cz/2/detail/sternberg-palace/
and scroll down to the third pic.) I use it as a desktop background often and see something very different AND VERY HUMAN in his expression each time I look at it. To see it in person is amazing…His eyes are almost liquid. It’s a rather small painting and confronts you in person as if He were actually standing there breathing…
Recently in photography, the December 2006 cover of Rangefinder magazine, “Final Salute” by Todd Heisler, (be sure to read the caption below the shot)
http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2006/feature-photography/works/heisler03.html
This shot takes my breath away; with no apologies for no matter what your stance is on the war. I have dear friends who’ve recently gotten back from Iraq and been gracious enough to share some of what they’ve been through…when I see this photo, I’m on that plane, wondering what my own face looks like, wondering if I can ever appreciate what our veterans have really sacrificed, wondering if there’s ever enough support I can express to them to truly say “Thank you” enough. It captures all the conflict I feel about America’s role in the world vs. the horrors of war vs. the distinct possibility that the body in that casket could have been someone I know and love personally…
Great art makes us respond…think, laugh, cry!
Van Aelst’s Holy Trinity in the Prado (Madrid) still haunts me. God, on his throne, holds Jesus’ dead body in a classic pieta pose. We have somewhat accustomed to seeing Christ’s limp body draped across his mother’s lap, but to see him in his FATHER’S is shocking. The image of God holding his only son, dead, is not easily shaken. Nor is the expression on his face–one of great grief, anger, and dispair. A not-so-gentle reminder of what not only Christ did for us, but what his father endured as well.
Atlanta Bob, if that doesn’t make you long for heaven……
God help me. Colors I’ve never seen. I can’t wait to get there.
I have watched you coach..among the screaming coaches its good to watch a Dad coach his boy with such class…
When I go to Dallas to the Dallas Museum of Art I sit on the bench in front of this gigantic painting and get lost in it.
Mountain Landscape with Approaching Storm by Claude-Joseph Vernet
I hope you have the best season yet! And I agree with Joel, you are a real coach, the best one your son will ever have.
Can’t wait to see Jacob’s Dream someday!
Mike,
Okay….baseball details you asked for:
Admission is free b/c MasterScapes picks up the tab for all fans every year. (Semi-shameless plug for Dan & Cathy Haught.)
Other “freebies” include:
1. Free popcorn for 10 minutes each time our pitcher strikes out the pre-determined “K-man” on the other team.
2. Cash prizes for trivia (and the free entertainment of watching grown men race over bleacher seats to get to the press box first in order to answer the trivia questions).
3. Watching young men who still play because they LOVE the game.
4. Getting to see a genius coach in action up close and personal.
5. Excellent sermon ideas, b/c….as you must know….baseball has to be the greatest metaphor for life.
6. Listening to Kregg Pierson play the National Anthem on his harmonica over the loud speaker before a game.
7. and the list goes on….(including the joy of watching 4 beautiful blondes run on the field & hug their daddy after a double-header & ask him “Did you win?” although they’ve been in the stands for the past 6 hours.)
As for your new job opportunity in the Fall….put yourself in these young men’s shoes for a moment. Even the worst of fathers come to their son’s games if they’re good. Our guys are good. They’ve had a cheering section for their entire lives & now they’re away from home for the first time. They’re from California, Oregon, Hawaii, etc. They need dads. Good dads. I doubt you’ll find too many of them in your classes. But….they’re right across the parking lot. Britt, Brandon, KP, and others do such a good job of “coaching”. But….sure couldn’t hurt to have more. (Talk about “The Church Has Left the Building”!) So….should I tell Britt to order a uniform for you? Or….should I save the spectator seat next to me? (That would be seat #3 by the dugout. Don’t mess with seat #2….that one’s mine. If I don’t sit there, they lose. Can you say “superstition is contagious”?)
Favorite art…
Watching my granddaughter walk, talk, and play. Just you wait Mike!
She is a master piece like none other.
Other favorite art pieces:
My daughter’s beauty
My sons rugged handsome face
The sun set in a West Texas sky!
Footnote:
After re-reading my entry….let me clarify. Just in case it sounded like I was saying our guys had “non-good” dads….Not what I meant. They just have dads that live far, far away. Out-of-state dads can’t really make it to 56 games a year. Even in-town dads have a hard time making it to games. (Just ask your in-laws how impossible it is to be in 2 places at one time with simultaneous father/son seasons.)
Cari Bonneau
First time I parked in handicap parking I caught a foul ball, right in my windshield.
Beautiful sunsets speak to my soul.
I agree wholeheartly with Cari - Mike, you would make a great role model/mentor/substitute dad for these wonderful young men! Please say yes!
Cari, tell Britt that I’m still coming & watching even though I’m not working for ACU anymore!
Carolyn
Clint-
I feel for you. GlassMasters and Binswanger have seen me more than once. Britt played with a guy in Tyler (then later coached w/ him here at ACU) named Troy Dean Conkle who knocked out the back window of his own car with a foul ball. Since they only made $700 a month in minor league baseball at the time, Troy’s grandma’s quilt became his back window for the rest of the season. Sorry….there ARE no safe spots to park with this unpredictable West Texas winds and our power hitters.
Baseballs and car windows brings to mind a classic story that is told among submarine sailors.
It has to to with the Captain of one of the boats, standing on the pier, making a call to his car insurance agent reporting an accident. His car had been hit by a submarine; his car, his submarine. It seems there was a slight error in judging docking space. The submarine plowed through the pier, slamming into the Captain’s own car, totaling it.
Norman Rockwell’s Art. I have loved him since I was a very young child. He doesn’t grab my soul he shows THE soul. You know the character, and thoughts of the subjects he draws.
I love the history, the developmental milestones, and the way he uses the innocence of childhood to soften and expose hard social issues.
You can experience many of his paintings from so many different levels of life….before you knew,when you knew, as a child, as an adult etc.
Mike,
Any chance that you could post a picture of Jacob’s Dream? (If doing so wouldn’t violate copyright, that is.) I’d love to see it!
I don’t know if this counts as art… but friends have loaned us the Joan of Arcadia series. So good! Always makes me excited about hearing from God.
Maude: Click on the link below and see Jack’s art. We’ve seen it firsthand, and it’s magnificent. Photos don’t do it justice.
http://www.acu.edu/events/news/archives2006/060911_jacobs_dream.html
Since you’ve been coaching this long, you are probably “addicted” to it. I agree with some of the above comments…keep on coaching (or be someone’s assistant)…you may never know how many children you will reach!
Thanks, Steve!
I was my son’s Scout leader for 10 years and my daughters softball coach for a couple years untill she couldn’t play anymore because of knee problems. She has a daughter who is playing this year, maybe it is time for me to dust off the old softball rule book again and get back on the field. Maybe my daughter and I could coach together.
Atlanta Bob-
We were in Florence this past October. I was awestruck as I turned the corner and saw “David”. It is just a wonder. Much taller than I thought it would be. Felt in awe.
Can’t wait to see “Jacob’s Ladder”. Dear friends from North Atlanta saw it two weeks ago and were blown away.