A Modern Parable!

I was reflecting back and I came upon a lesson I almost overlooked. Back in my son's younger days he participated in Pop Warner football. The team he played on was a consistent winner of the National Championship, in fact over a twelve year period, they won it ten times. The backbone of this successful organization was the president and head coach. He just seemed to have a magic touch about assembling a team that could and did compete on a national level. This is his story.

He was a well respected, happily married, businessman in the community. The respect he'd garnered earned him the top position of the Pop Warner organization, where he continued to shine. In fact he was asked to assist in the local private school's team as a bonus. His success had advanced him to the next level and it appeared he was being groomed to take the head coaching position for the high school team. Something he'd obviously yearned for. This advancement would also guarantee his son a position as on of the teams coordinators.

As often happens a fallible man placed in a position of leadership draws the attention of admirers. How they handle this often speaks volumes to their character. This fellow was no exception! A younger well, proportioned, divorced mother of one of the players began to seek his attention, and he responded in kind. An affair ensued, and he placed his marriage in jeopardy. The community took notice, and he was asked to leave the private school's coaching staff. He'd lost his dream because of a failure of character. Then the real bomb hit, the next election of board members, he was relieved of his position as president of the Pop Warner team he's nurtured for over a decade. Apparently adultery wasn't something the parents wanted glorified in front of their children.

Our fellow moved on to a rival organization, dropped the affair and patched up his wounded marriage. He's not yet been able to bring the magic to his new organization he enjoyed with the championship squad. But he has seen the light, and is slowly mending old fences, broken by a flawed decision to put pleasure over his character.

There is a lesson here for all to learn. Even in this confused day and age, your decisions have consequences. It's not worth putting your character in jeopardy for sinful pleasure. People are watching those of us in leadership, and they judge you by your actions. Our coach traded great for not so great and the whole transaction hinged on his decision to pursue an act that expressed a lack of principles. What we do, even in the smallest instance, affects our outcome in life. Protect your character!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill