Case in point: This week in family time (that's what we call or team devotional time), a player shared are very personal struggle. One that she is probably still dealing with daily. She became very transparent with her teammates about the struggle and almost couldn't finish her talk. I commend her for being open, honest, and transparent. Most would never have done this for fear of being judged, laughed at, or put down. Instead however, her teams showed they supported her. They encouraged her and I know if it comes right down to it they will pick her up if need be. Her transparency will not only make her stronger but will make her team stronger.
As a coach, I have tried to use this blog as a form of transparency for my players, their parents and any who wants to read it. I hope I have somewhat succeeded. I have learned this week that it seems to be paying off. I have gotten several comments about being open, honest and transparent. Those comments are an encouragement that helps keep me going and lets me know that my transparency is paying off. It also helps keep me accountable to what I do and what I say/post. Those both make me stronger. It also helps make my team stronger because they see their coach as a real person one who struggles with things and not above failure. I hope they also see how much I care for them and want the to succeed both on and off the court. This all makes them stronger and it all makes us as a team stronger.
I have had coaches in the past say that a coach should not to be this way to their players. We are an authority figure and we shouldn't let them know these things. I TOTALLY disagree. I feel it helps us and them be a better team and better people over all by being transparent. I believe that a coaches job is more than just about the sport you coach and yes even more about wins and loses. Its about the other things you teach. Its about character,honesty, respect and integrity. Its about helping the players we coach become the men or women that God created them to be. The ONLY way we can do this is by showing them the person God made us to be, by being transparent. There are examples of this all through the Bible. Look at Paul in Romans. Paul was one of the great leaders of the church and many people looked up to him. But in Romans 7:14-21, he talks about the sins he struggles with and how horrible he feels he is for them. Even Jesus had struggles. Yes even He was tempted by the devil but the one that we seem to forget is in the Garden just before he was arrested. Mark 14:36, Matthew 26:42,Luke 22:42 All tell us that even He struggled with what He knew He had been sent to earth to do. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done." Jesus struggled with fulling His "job". He didn't want to die. He was transparent enough to show that. If we are to be like Christ, shouldn't we to be transparent?
Being transparent is not a bad thing especially if we have Christ first in our life. If you look transparent up in the dictionary, one definition you see is "manifest, obvious". As Christians we are to allow Christ to manifest in us. If this is true then when we become transparent, people won't see us but see Christ in us.
1 John 4:9
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
2 Corinthians 4:11
For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
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