Seeking God on Wednesday;
John Wooden enjoyed watching the Indiana State Teacher’s College (now Indiana State University) football team and
also walking to the college each morning durng his two year tenure as ISU’s basketball coach. You’re probably wondering how those two relate. It was during both of those times that the Coach and my Dad became acquainted. Dad was the starting fullback and middle linebacker on the football team and he and my Mom’s apartment was on Coach’s route to the college. Subsequently, Dad and Coach started walking to school together and engaged in conversations about sports, academics, the war (both of them were Navy veterans), marriage (my parents were newly weds), faith, and life in general. Those moments left an indelible impression on my Dad as he has spoken of John Wooden often during his life. I asked Dad what impressed him most about the man. Without hesitation, Dad described the “Wizard of Westwood” as a gentleman with unwavering character; a man who was always kind and considerate to whomever he was with causing them to feel good about themself.
John Wooden’s character gave life to his words.
I believe that God brought John Wooden into my Dad’s life during a key time in Dad’s personal development. Although, he never again saw or spoke to the Coach after he left for UCLA, Dad went on to become a successful high school football coach and principal who was known in his community as a man of unwavering character, uncompromising faith, and unbiased kindness to all. Thank you, John Wooden, for helping to shape my Dad into the wonderful man he’s become.
“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.“ (John Wooden)
“For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness knowledge; and to knowledge self control; and to self control perseverence; and to perseverence godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love.” (2 Peter 1:5, 6)