Winning Isn’t Everything…

Feb 18th 2009

The renown football coach Vince Lombardi completed that phrase with the words, “It’s the Only Thing!”  Actually Lombardi most likely heard the adage from UCLA football coach Henry “Red” Sanders.  It is a statement which sums up the American ideal of unfettered competition.  Now I have to be honest, I keep score.  When my kids were playing preschool soccer, I kept score.  Track and Field Day, I threw away the participation ribbons, playing the game wasn’t enough.  Even when I work out, I keep score.  I can’t just go tread a mill for 30 minutes, I have to set a goal and beat it.

But winning isn’t everything, at least not when it’s the only thing.

Or maybe winning is everything… as long as we are playing the right game.

For example here are some winning phrases from the Bible…

  • Love never fails. I Corinthians 13
  • Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2
  • The greatest among you will be the servant. Matthew 23

So maybe the question isn’t so much, “Are you too focused on winning?” It’s more, “Are you winning the right game?”  Anyway, what got me thinking about this was a great story from Espn.  It’s about two missed free throws.  Check it out by clicking here.