Author: Marlin McPhail

Before retiring, I spent 44 years in professional baseball as a player, coach, and scout. That means (not counting years I played at two MiLB levels) I had the opportunity to win 44 championships! I was fortunate to be a part of five titles. That means 39 times my season ended in disappointment. But realistically, winning anything is hard, and winning 11% might be considered good, right? Let’s tighten this up a little. Actually, all five Championships came while I played Minor League Baseball (5/10), and none came as a coach or scout (0/34).

Why do I bring this up? Am I boasting about my playing days? Was I just an adequate coach and scout? Actually, it is because I’ve had as much joy over the last 34 years as I did in the first ten. It turns out, yes, winning is fun, and I love to win, but it’s not all about wins and losses at the end of the day. I’ve learned that JOY can be found in all seasons, and quite frankly, championships are fleeting! In order to be 100% correct, I had to research the years of those championships to make sure I had it right!

As a competitor, I do love to win. Typically, to have a good chance at winning, it is nice to start well. Moreover, it is usually just as important to end well. However, how players and coaches react and respond during the hard times “in” season—that is what will truly determine not only the outcome of the season but what gets remembered in the long run about each season, win or lose!

As much as our athletic portion of life is tested, so will our Faith. As stated in James 1:3, WHEN (not if) your Faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. And that parallels seasons of competition. Name me a season when you were not tested! By a player, umpires, the team, injuries, weather! There are so many obstacles we face with both our human (coaching) life and our spiritual life! How we react can lay the foundation for growth and endurance with our human championship and, similarly, with our faith and an eternal championship!

Don’t let earthly things steal your JOY. You should work to find a way to spread that JOY throughout your team in times of struggle! Use the tests that present themselves and times of adversity to grow with your team on the field and off. It’s the perfect time for connection and building of what is needed physically and spiritually. Do not miss the opportunity to Be and build a disciple on the field and for Jesus.

Be a light, shine bright, don’t hide your Light for Christ under a lamp shade. (Matt. 5:14–16) Growth can happen on the field and off if you lead with the Character of Christ working through you. (Gal. 5:22–23)

Be well, Build well, Serve Well.

During my coaching days years ago, I was involved in one game I’ll never forget. My team was on the road and playing a doubleheader. This meant a long day at the field! Getting down 7-0 early just deflated the team. You could see them looking ahead to the 2nd game. However, we still had to finish Game 1. In our final at-bat, with 2 outs and an 0-2 count on our hitter, something changed! That hitter reached base, and the next and the next….. and before we knew it, we were on top 9-7 and won the game! I do not remember the outcome of Game 2!

What changed? How did this happen? I can attest to one thing: I heard from the dugout (I was coaching 3rd) someone say, “We can still do this!” What, why now? Where did his HOPE come from? With each hitter having success, HOPE rose, JOYFUL noise could be heard, BELIEF grew, and the results were something no one would forget!

In Luke 7:12-13, all hope was lost. The mother’s only son was dead, and she was already a widow. What hope did she have? She had no future! There was no one to take care of her. She was destined to beg for a living. Well, Jesus happened! He had just entered the town and witnessed the funeral procession. Jesus felt compassion for her! He saw, he felt, he acted, and raised the boy and gave him back to his mother!

Don’t miss this: Of course, Jesus knew the ramifications of this boy’s death meant to the mother. No one asked Jesus to act. However, his actions spoke volumes to the witnesses. He continued to confirm his authority and build his identity. They could see he was empowered by God.

When you coach at any level, the players will look to you for inspiration, confidence, and positivity. How you walk, talk, act, react, and simply lead your team will determine just how much influence you will ultimately have with them.

Compassion for each individual and their stories is a good place to start.

Compassion was an underlying theme in all Jesus’ miraculous acts!

What better way to lead a team but with the character of Christ flowing through you!