Humble Pie Anyone?
I am writing this post while choking on a mouthful of Humble Pie. After blowing a ten point lead with only five minutes remaining on the clock in the Sweet 16 last season, I was confident that I had reached my pentacle as a coach when it comes to failing help my team close an obvious game we had in the bag. I have had many sleepless nights and upset stomachs resulting from that Humble Pie.
Just when I didn’t believe it can get any worse. My team this past week blows an 18 point lead with only 12 minutes remaining in the game. We did it in historic fashion scoring only 1 point total and failing to make a single field goal in the last 12 minutes. Yes, it seems I was able to invent another way to add an even more discouraging piece of unexpected Humble Pie to my resume.
I compare this joy to stepping barefoot in a pile of puppy crap on your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. As it squishes through your toes and you realize the unexpected torture you just walked into, you cringe and gag at the same time praying it will never happen again as long as you live. I wanted to crawl under the bleachers and through a side door to avoid communication with anyone who had come to the game.
I honestly felt that both games were over, that is just before the pie hit me knocking me out for the count. I hoped it was just a nightmare. I even pulled all five of my players who were playing well off the floor as I was convinced we had complete control of the game. I cost us big and that is something I feel sick about, but cannot undo.
I once heard a story about the New England Patriots in their heyday. I was told the entire team wore t-shirts under their pads that read “Humble Pie”. Their goal was to go undefeated and the plan was to have a daily reminder every time they took their pads off to avoid Pride, because as the virtue says “Pride comes before the fall.” They enjoyed a lot of success with applying that Biblical Principle.
As an expert, I can tell you a couple things about Humble Pie. It comes in many undesirable flavors and it cost you way more than you desire to pay. Just when you pull your shoulders back and hold your head high, the pie is often unleashed hitting you square in the face. Not only that, but it usually happens with the whole world watching.
I have been blessed to have experienced more success from above than I deserve. I like to think that I have paid my dues and worked as hard as anyone while attempting to climb some challenging mountains in my life. God has been so gracious to me and provided so much strength and favor! However, about the time I start believing I have things figured out, you guessed it, bring on more Humble pie!
The year after leading my unranked Vinita Hornets to the 1996 4A State Championship, we were knocked out of the Area Tournament resulting in being called one of the most disappointment teams in the state.
God has blessed me with winning National Championships as a player, an assistant coach, and as a head coach. We have qualified for 22 of the last 23 National Tournaments, including 17 straight. Yet, all the wins and success never prepares or disqualifies you for someday finding yourself in the sites of a big piece of brutal tasting Humble Pie.
I wish I could say it has been nothing but high’s, but check out a few more of the depressing lows. In 2013 after leading SAGU, who had never made an NAIA Tournament, to the National Championship Game, we lost in the Championship by the biggest margin in tournament history. Another year we were the first one seed to be knocked out of the NAIA Tournament.
Man I hate the taste of that pie. However, I heard a powerful message this week worth sharing. What if God is allowing you to fail, to better prepare you for greater things He has in store for you. Would God do that?
After 400 years of captivity, which is a pretty bad losing streak, Moses, Mr. Humility himself, delivers the Israelites from captivity. God could have easily taken them straight to the promised land, but it seems God realized that His chosen people needed to be tested and taught some things before they could even fight a single successful battle in the promised land. God knew they were not ready to defeat the giants awaiting them in the promised land.
What if that loss you just experienced was allowed by God because He has a greater victory waiting for you in the days to come? What if God is doing all He can to prepare and teach you, but it is up to you to choose to learn instead of choosing to quit, whine, or blame others for your failure? What if this is only a temporary setback and it is meant to supply you with the motivation you need to not only reach the promised land, but to help you dominate once you arrive. If that is the case a little Humble Pie isn’t always a bad thing!