Shaming of theTrue 

A fresh and unique blending of two traditionally disconnected topics---spirituality and sports. Follow Sly Young as he attempts to accomplish the feat of playing professionally in the three major sports using positive character traits taught through scripture.

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7-19-10                             

                          Forgetting those things...

ROMANS 6:4-that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in the newness of life.

How do I walk in the “newness of life”? There are several references that encourage us to incorporate this trait into our essential make up. There should be a daily renewing of the mind.

Imagine that! Each morning a person is asked to begin the day with a total newness. Discern the past, yes, but don’t create judgments about the fresh, new day based on some old occurrence. Do not attempt to put “new wine into old bottles”, was the message in one of Jesus’ parables. His point was that new ideas and new methods must be received by a newness of life. This is the way to become the new creature that Paul often models and teaches.

Forgetting those things from behind that tend to weigh us down is a great way to live. A majority of the discontent that folks carry around is based on two things; a) worrying about something in the future and/or b) not getting over some past incident that still haunts them. The stress over future possibilities is a lesson in itself, but the present goal is to bring about understanding the wisdom of a fresh outlook on life every single day. The present is tough enough without the burden of past events.

Every morning should begin with “THIS is a day that the Lord has made…”, and then tomorrow “THIS is a day that the Lord has made…” If everyday is a call for you to be blessed in it then the newness has already been established. Renew your mind and grab a hold to that point. Every single solitary day has been made with the intent on folks being blessed. Every single solitary day is brand spankin’ new. Every single solitary day should be treated with the same freshness and newness as if God hand delivered it just for you.

Every since Jesus was raised from the dead we have the ability to be new creatures in Christ. Imagine that! Each and every day is my personally sent original day, like no other before it and no other after it. This “newness of spirit” is also mentioned in a later chapter of Romans, (7:6).

When is it advantageous to have a newness of life in the sports realm? A lot of our character traits are obvious when identifying the transference from life to sports, and/or from spirituality to sports. What benefits are garnered if I come to practice each day with a renewed since of purpose? How much better would I perform if the past game, good or bad, I was able to leave behind me and focus on the new situation at hand?

Let’s just take the major three sports baseball, basketball and football. Each requires a similar attitude at the start of each practice (day), that can easily determine the type of practice or training that takes place on that particular day. When my focus is on trying to improve every single solitary day, this fresh approach leads an athlete to have a new purpose everyday. How you practiced yesterday, good or bad, cannot influence your practice habits today. THIS is a day… and you need to take full advantage of the newness of the opportunity.

Individually, within the structure of these three games, a “forgetting those things behind” is always considered a positive trait to exhibit. Starting with baseball, never bring the result of the previous plate appearance, to the plate. For the pitcher, never let the previous result, good or bad, effect your next pitch. Baseball players need newness for each different situation.

Moving to basketball, if you missed a couple of free throws the last time, it is admirable if you can block it out and focus on the current free throw because it is a brand new situation.

Lastly, in football, the very good defensive backs (particularly cornerbacks) are told to have a short memory. They are coached to never let the previous play, good or bad, seep into their mind or their focus. Treat each play as a new play, and the only play to execute.

God directs you to have a “newness of life”, which was made possible by allowing His only Son, to die and resurrect for our sins. This suggests that you bring a new outlook into every single solitary day. Take advantage and try to understand the wisdom of your possible choices. Either let the past dictate your day, or begin each day with a God directed, renewed mind.

                                                                                                   Fred Tudor

Fred Tudor is a twenty-two year employee of the Cincinnati Public Schools as a Health and Physical Education teacher. He has been coaching at the high school level in Greater Cincinnati since graduating from Wittenberg University in 1979. His coaching stints includes stops at his alma mater Walnut Hills High School, Hughes Center High School, and from 1990 until present coaches at Wyoming High School. His church home is Cincinnati Bibleway Church in Madisonville, Apostles James and Grace Blue Pastors. Contact Information: 513.328.2767 E-Mail: Info@CincySportsWorld.com