FROM THE DAWGHOUSE…
Do your DAWG for a month to make it a holy habit for life
ARE YOU WEARING A UNIFORM?
My DAWG today took an interesting turn. I have many 3×5 cards that I go through many times a week. Some have key Scriptures on them and some have key quotes that I want to regularly grip my thinking and direct my life.
Today, before I read Scripture, I went through those cards and came across one of my favorite quotes from my friend Alan Gooch, who is a coach, professor, and businessman:
“Everyone wants to play but no one wants to practice.”
So often this is true. We men often want to be in visible positions where we can “show what I got” so people can see our genius, giftedness and why they are so fortunate to have us in their lives. We want to often, truth be known, show off. We want to be public before we have done the hard work of becoming proficient in private. We want to play in the game before the adoring fans, but we don’t want to do the hard work of practice and preparation before a Holy God, so that we can play well and help the team to win, advancing His glory. But here’s the reality…
A man who won’t practice in obscurity, simply will not play well in public.
A DAWG is very un-public. When we spend time in a DAWG with our Lord Jesus Christ, He has the time to instruct us in private that we can then go out and play in public, prepared as a part of His team in advancing His Kingdom. In a sense a DAWG is practice, getting prepared for real life and being equipped to play well.
That is precisely why Proverbs continually calls us to seek wisdom with verses like:
Proverbs 8:1-11 ESV
8 Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man.
5 O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
And then my friend Alan said something else I had never thought of before: That baseball coaches always wear uniforms, unlike football or basketball coaches. “Why is that?”, I asked. It’s because a baseball coach historically was always ready to step in and play. They were player-coaches.
I like that a lot.
In my DAWG I get to listen to my Lord and let Him develop me in private (i.e. practice) before I hit the field and play the real game and fight the real battles. And, having heard from my Lord and remembering who I really am as God’s redeemed and beloved son, I can put on the right uniform to face the day…the uniform as a leader, worker and warrior of King Jesus.
Ok, lot’s of metaphors here.
Challenge: Spend the time in obscurity in a DAWG so you will be prepared to face the real world. Listen, put on the uniform, Coach, and play!
You take it to heart,
Pete Alwinson
