My profession

Now, being fresh out of college, I was going to set the world on fire, so when the Hutchinson News called me for my first interview and asked how our football team would do, I simply said that we had a good chance to win league. Well, nine losses later, I was much more humble and in the early stage of learning more about coaching. I continue to offer thanks to the late Father George Mueller and the people of Sharon for their prayers and support during that year.

From Attica, I went on to spend four years in Moscow. At the end of those four years, my overall football record was 23 wins and 22 losses. It took a long time to overcome those first nine defeats. But one thing that stemmed from each loss was a greater appreciation for each win, learning to never take anything for granted.

During my 16 years of teaching, I spent some time as a head basketball coach as well as an assistant football coach. As I look back at all of these coaching experiences, several things come to mind. All in all, I am not sure that I was that great of a coach, but I always did my best to remain professional. I tried to dress well and earn the respect of the players, coaches and fans. For the most part I believe that I was fairly successful with this. The wins and losses were another thing. I remember joking with another coach one time. I told him that I couldn’t coach worth a darn, but I looked good.

Whether it has been teaching, coaching, or my ministry, I have never had to be told how to dress. I have always dressed professionally. I recently heard someone say that as a person dresses for success they also dress to be professional and to earn the respect of their peers. I know that as our young people continue to grow and mature, that they are learning the same thing. It is important that we earn the respect of our peers and that we are professional in all we do.

But, like my coaching career, some professions don’t turn out like we have planned. When I started teaching in 1978, I figured that I would retire as a teacher and coach. But of course God had a different plan. As we travel through life, God calls us in different directions and our professions change. But there is one profession that remains the same, one that remains consistent. Our Profession of Faith!

Through our Baptism we are welcomed into the Body of Christ and we continue to grow in knowledge and understanding of what this means. As we continue on this pilgrimage of life, we become more committed to our Profession of Faith.

So, my invitation to you for this column is the same as all the rest. As we work with, and journey with, our young people. We know that each of them has visions of the future. How early in life to we start talking to them about what they want to do when they grow up? As they grow and make choices, how can we, as members of the Body of Christ, help draw them more deeply into the one profession that we so boldly profess? Amen -- we do believe!