November 2009 Coach's Corner Les Steckel

Relational Sacrifices

While most people know me as a former NFL coach, some of my favorite years were actually spent on the college gridiron. One of the most memorable seasons was from my first stint at the University of Colorado. It was the 1976 season, and we took the Buffaloes to their first Big 8 Championship in 20 years and then went to the Orange Bowl.

If you turn to page 6, you'll find one of my former players from that team: Gary Brasher. His determination and toughness, which exemplified that team as a whole, hasn't diminished over the years. What a feat he's taking on to complete a triple Iron-distance triathlon for FCA! That man certainly has my respect. I've run one marathon in my life, and that was hard enough. But three Iron-distance races on three consecutive days? Unbelievable!

It's fun for me to think about the great history Gary and I share and to see where the Lord has led him now. Through FCA, we've stayed in touch over the years, and it's clear that we share a common passion for maintaining relationships. Imagine trying to keep healthy bonds with your family and friends while holding down a job and training for this kind of endurance event. I think about his sacrifices and the hours of early-morning and late-night workouts he puts in so he can still have a career and be the family man God has called him to be. But Gary believes in the challenge God has given him, and he's 100-percent dedicated to seeing it through. Truly, Philippians 4:13 comes to my mind regarding Gary: "I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me."

"...we can't be completely self-absorbed if we want to both bless others and receive relational blessings in life."

As Christians, sacrifice is often necessary in our lives. I think about our 900-plus FCA field staff and how blessed we are to have a group of people who make sacrifices daily, weekly and annually for Christ through this ministry. Over and over, I tell people that FCA is built on relationships. And there is no possible way to count the number of athletes and coaches whose lives have been touched by their relationships with the FCA staff who give of their time and resources. Those lives would never be changed if we didn't have such an amazing team who put it on the line for Christ every day.

Think about the relationships in your own life. How healthy are they? Do you need to examine your level of personal commitment and sacrifice in regard to others? I'm not saying that we should be doormats for people or never take time for ourselves, but I am saying that we can't be completely self-absorbed if we want to both bless others and receive relational blessings in life.

We can learn a great lesson from Christ when it comes to relationships. He poured His love and healing into all He touched and, ultimately, laid down His own life for us (John 15:13). And while none of us will ever experience the same kind of death He did, we must still follow His lead by daily dying to our selfish desires in order to convey His hope and love to the world.

Look at Gary Brasher. Don't you think he would love to take a nap after he's done training? I'm sure he would, but he values and loves his family more. Look at our FCA staff. Don't you think they would love to hit the snooze button instead of going to the 7 a.m. Huddle meeting at the local high school? Of course they would, but they love the athletes and coaches more. The bottom line is that all these folks love Christ more, and that is the most important relationship of all.

This month, if you need to make a relational change, do it. Examine ways in which you can make personal sacrifices to meet the needs of others. Don't do this at the expense of your health or your own relationship with the Lord, and do make sure to prioritize the relationships in which you already invest. (e.g., Do not sacrifice your relationship with your spouse for relationships with friends.) But ask the Lord to reveal to you ways in which you can better serve Him through reaching out to others. The blessings that both you and others receive will be well worth the time and effort.

Model the Master,

Les Steckel
FCA President/CEO