When I was developing content in my role as a High School Football and Character Coach, I sketched out a bunch of lessons around the “Be A …, Not A …” concept. I began sharing them in this blog in groups of 4-6 concepts per blog and this is my sixth edition. To see Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, click on the hyperlinks.
Be a Capybaras, not a Porcupine.
Capybaras are the friendliest wild animals on Earth. This giant, wild rodent, is about four-feet-long, and averages about 150 pounds. This semi-aquatic animal is known to be super friendly and responds well to human contact. They are calm and compassionate. Capybaras get along with cats, birds, crocodiles, camels, and everything in between. They have been known to adopt and raise stray animals.
Porcupines have the tendency to brush, scrape, bristle, and bruise everything and everyone in their path. There are days we live in a heightened state with rash responses different than how God commanded us to love each other. We can have “porcupine personalities” with an over-abundance of attitude and seeking comfort by disregarding others.
I recently discovered the Parable of the Prickly Porcupine. During the coldest of winter porcupines decide to gather and huddle close to fend off the chill. But their prickly quills poke and stab each other, wounding their closest companions. The warmth is wonderful, but the mutual needling becomes increasingly uncomfortable. Eventually, they will distance themselves from each other. The choice becomes, discomfort of the frigid wilderness or being needled by their companions’ quills while benefiting from the collective warmth.
Be a Capybaras and follow Proverbs 18:24, “There are friends who bring ruin, but there are true friends more loyal than a brother.” Paul writes in his letter to the Romans (12:18), “If possible, on your part, live at peace with all.” As well as smack dab in the middle of a rich section of Paul’s letter to the Philippians (4:5), Paul writes, “Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.”
Be a Reader, not an Actor.
We need to be reading – books, the Bible, each other, and even our own
tendencies. Learning to read signs, hints, clues and warnings – as well as how to follow them – is an integral part of our human experience. We learn from others’ experiences as well as our own history. Throughout the ages, reading has shown us the way to a higher path. President Harry S. Truman said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers”.
Growing up we were often told, “act like a fine young man” and “act your age” even “act like you like it.” To a degree we strive to become outstanding actors. To put on an act for others to see or to act upon others’ words and beliefs at their direction. Our word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek word for actor, so it is possible Jesus may have used “actor” figuratively to refer to someone who was two-faced, insincere, or just pretending.
1 Timothy 4:13 says, “Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.” This letter is giving Timothy instruction on his duty to restrain false and useless teaching. It places value on the public reading of scripture in the Christian assembly for preservation of the purity of the church’s doctrine against false actors.
Be a Puller, not a Pusher.
Authentic leadership was demonstrated by General Eisenhower and a simple piece of string. He noted that if we pull it, it follows; whereas if we push it, it goes nowhere. People follow a person who leads by example. Pulling entails teaching, coaching, and mentoring, rather than pushing or correcting. Pulling is the preferred option.
A “pull” culture within an organization is evident from moment one. Pulling is being engaged at a peer level. Advocates, mentors, and coaches provide guidance, coaching, and proactive advice. Feedback and development are core pillars. Pushing sounds a lot like command-and-control. We walk in front as a role model, not stand behind pushing.
The Bible provides numerous examples of “pulling.” In John 13:15, Jesus says, “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (4:1–3), “I urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.”
My favorite Biblical example is Nehemiah. In his mission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he knows the right thing to do and takes ownership. He leads and pulls others to rebuild the wall and reclaim Jerusalem.
Be the Journey, not the Destination.
We all start in different places and take different paths, with the goal of
arriving at the same destination. Each journey is unique. The destination is important and must be kept in mind, but the impact we have is in the journey. The journey is where we move His kingdom further. To paraphrase St. Augustine , the journey is how our restless hearts find rest in Him.
Each of the many paths we tread can point to heaven. In this great quote from Paulo Coelho de Souza, the proper destination cannot be achieved without the journey, “Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about un-becoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were destined to become.”
Salvation is a journey not a destination. It is more than the single act of ‘being saved and accepting Christ’, aka the destination. It is a journey from one domain (man’s) to a higher kingdom (Christ’s). A journey of love, mercy, and kindness.
Be a Lover of Nature, not a Lover of Screens.
Spend quality time in nature surrounded by His beauty, not with a nose buried in a phone. Let’s be reflecting and discerning, instead of needing to be stimulated with texts, likes, and selfies. The human brain is built to seek novelty. We have allowed our screens to become novelty machines – presenting us with a never-ceasing stream of new images to look at.
When our noses are buried in our screens, we pay less attention to the world around us. We place more emphasis on man’s creations and not His creations. We waste time that could be spent fulfilling our God-given mission. Idle moments in nature allow us to be in communion with God. Screen time is displacing spiritual time.
I love the beauty reflected in Psalm 96:11-12, “Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; let the plains be joyful and all that is in them. Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice.” In John’s first letter, written after he composed his gospel, he forewarns against having our noses buried focused on “enticement for the eyes” and immediate gratification, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:16).
When presenting these “Be A …, Not A …” lessons, I advise players that just like running and lifting, we can condition ourselves around mental, social, and spiritual development. However, this development does not just happen in a gym or controlled environment. It occurs in real life, every day. The more we practice the better we become. Also, the less we practice, we become stunted or regress.
The world needs our gifts. The world needs us to be capybaras and pullers. To be nature lovers as we enjoy our journey. Our souls need us to be engaged and actively reading all the wonderful signs He has provided for us to show His love.
