Balance...keeping everything in perspective
These were the two things that John Wooden believed to be the most important two things on the planet. He taught those things...he lived those things...he set a quality example for anyone who's ever alive to follow.
The earth is a better place because of how John Wooden chose to live his life and the qualities of Christ that shone so brightly through him.
Here's a few of John's great quotes:
Ability is a poor man's wealth.
Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
Be prepared and be honest.
Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.
Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.
Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.
If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?
If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.
It isn't what you do, but how you do it.
It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.
Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.
Never mistake activity for achievement.
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.
Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.
The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.
The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.
What you are as a person is far more important that what you are as a basketball player.
You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one.
There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer.
And finally, consider the words of Paul as he describes love:
"1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails...13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
1 Cor. 13:1-8a, 13
John, thanks for choosing to honor the God that made you by consistently living for Him. I can only hope that we follow your example and let Christ's love shine brightly through all of us.
John Wooden...great basketball coach, greater human being. He will be missed.
Live for Christ...stay strong.
tim
