Denzel Preaches | Week 35 | Confidence Revolution

I am a sports kind of gal. I love live sports, sports on television, I even love sports talk radio! There’s something about the combination of fanfare and team work that gets me every time.

The other day I watched Remember the Titans. I loved it when it debuted in 2000 and I love it still.

The movie is based on the true story of Herman Boone (portrayed by none other than Denzel Washington), trying to lead his football team to victory. Only it’s 1971 in Virginia -- and the high school Denzel works at is newly integrated racially.

Denzel (he’s my friend, we’re on a first name basis) tries to come up with ways to get his team to integrate on a deeper level. He wants them to play football not only with each other but for each other.

Half-way through the film the football teams goes on a workout retreat and as part of the retreat, they are loudly awakened and tasked with running miles and miles through dense woods.

The football players have not yet become a TEAM, and so they are tense, pissed, tired, hungry and overall unpleasant. They go on this run through the woods and they are grumbling while they dodge boulders and trees. They are running before the sun has risen and so they are particularly bothered -- and after miles and miles of running, their coach (who has been leading the run) stops as he sees an open field.

Fog hovers over the ground and Denzel addresses his team while they are crouched over huffing and puffing.
 

“Anybody know what this place is? This is Gettysburg. This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we're still fighting amongst ourselves.....today. This green field right here was painted red, bubbling with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. 'I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family.' Listen and take a lesson from the dead.
If we don't come together right now, on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed just like they were.”
 
That’s where we are in America and maybe the world. We are inundated with fear through all forms of media, it’s no wonder the chasm is widening between certain religions and races.

During that same retreat the movie highlights the two pack leaders of the football team, Gerry Bertier and Julius Campbell. Gerry (white) is the team captain and he is aggravated that Julius (black) although immensely talented is not giving his all during team practices. Gerry reaches his tipping point and confronts Julius about it.

Julius, sharing in Gerry’s aggravation aggressively asks, “The captain is supposed to be the leader, right?” Julius points out how some of the white members of the team have also been slacking and how Gerry hasn’t done a damn thing about it. Then Julius says to Gerry, “Attitude reflects leadership, Captain.”

Mic drop.

Guys and gals, if we want the world to change, WE, YOU and I, have to push. WE can move the needle forward by changing the way we operate. However good and loving and progressive we think we are, we can always do a little more to be loving and inclusive.

We can’t just tell our children (and younger generations) what to do, we have to SHOW them through our ACTIONS.

Attitude reflects leadership and WE are the leaders.

love and grace, catia

Team Duncan | Week 31 | Confidence Revolution

Just a few months ago Tim Duncan retired and I read almost every article about his farewell. Without fail, everyone from Coach Pop to David Robinson to Dirk Nowitzki – they all sang Mr. Duncan’s praises about being a leader mostly by being the greatest team player they had ever seen.

Every article detailed how this 5 Time NBA Champion was always prepared, and how he always performed his best, and how ‘the team’ was his top priority.

“You don't see Timmy beating his chest as if he was the first human being to dunk the basketball, as a lot of people do these days. He's not pointing to the sky. He's not glamming to the cameras. He just plays, and we've seen it for so long it's become almost mundane. But it's so special that it has to be remembered.” Coach Pop continued by saying, “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Timmy.” And my guess is, neither would the Spurs -- as we’ve come to know them.

Over his career, Tim Duncan devoted himself so much to the sake of “team” that not only did he earn some accolades along the way, but he improved the lives of his coaches and his teammates. He kept his head down and contributed, year after year after year. And like the best leaders do, Timmy didn’t leave a group of men who won’t be able to survive without him, he left them strong and able to stand on their own.

A few weeks ago our church Pastor, Pastor Clark, preached a sermon and he said, the recipe for insignificance is only worrying about ourselves. He taught us that if we want to feel worthy and like we matter, we have to give of ourselves.

So let's ask .... where are we giving? 
What teams are we on?
Who counts on you and me?
Where are we leading by example?
Whose life are we making better by contributing our gifts?

Where can we find a team? 

Certainly our family can be a team, but so can our best girlfriends, so can our workout class and so can our theater group.

But maybe, just maybe, you're looking to feel like you matter MORE, and maybe you have room for one more team.

Is it in the realm of possibilities that you can start volunteering once a week or once a month at your local Boys and Girl Club, or local YMCA, or local library, or local hospital?

I know we’re all busy, and we certainly don’t HAVE TO volunteer. But how would we feel if we did? How would we feel if we lived such poured out lives that we bettered the lives of those around us? How AMAZING would we feel if we left those around us, strong and able to stand on their own? Pretty damn good, I'm guessing. 

AND for those of you out there who are doing it, who are giving ALL you've got, I know you're out there, and I salute you. The world is a better place with you in it. Thank you. 

love and grace, catia

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