My favorite coach is John Wooden.  He was the coach and architect of perhaps the most successful college basketball dynasty of all time, the UCLA Bruins.  More importantly he is an even better man than he was a coach.  He developed for his life and the life of his players the “Pyramid of Success”, which simply stated that God came first, family second and basketball something further down the line.  What was most important to him was that these young men became…good men.  And he was an amazing coach! 

Coach Wooden prided himself on not only teaching the basics but actually practicing the basics.  By the time a player reaches the college level, the elementary portions of the game should be known and memorized.  Yet despite this, coach Wooden drilled them endlessly on dribbling, passing, shooting, defense, conditioning and free throws.  Year after year his teams were in the best shape, they didn’t turn the ball over and they were merciless on defense.  He famously used to say, “Never confuse activity with achievement”; a phrase which I consider daily.

What can we learn from coach Wooden?  We can learn that the basics count.  It is no different in our faith journey with Jesus.  Those whom I have known to stand the test of time in their walk with Christ are those who never stopped practicing the basics.  They regularly read God’s Word, the Bible.  They daily pulled themselves away from everyday challenges to find a quiet time to pray.  They committed to remaining connected to a church body and giving all of themselves, and lastly they developed healthy relationships both in their faith community and in their workaday lives. 

The clarion call of these people can probably be summed up with some basic words from Jesus.  These words were given in response to the question, “What is the most important commandment?”  All of God’s commandments are important of course, but incredibly Jesus says that there are some that are more important.  These are the basics…the solid ground to build upon…and a way for us to “never confuse activity with achievement”.

Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’”

Want to shine bright in 2009?  It is time to get back to basics and stay back to basics.  Read, pray, connect.  It works and will give you the strength you need to be around for the long haul.

How bright will you shine in 2009?