Failure Leading to Success.

flail, fail, prevail, all hail.
people like to think that this is the sequence that always will occur. Not really. Most likely that the first two will happen and thats it. I mean, if you look hard enough, dig deep enough, you could probably find some good in every time that you mess up. Something that you can learn from for the next time. But i hate it when people try to glorify failure as just part of a great process. it sucks. period. But anyway, thats not what i wanted to write about today.

Taking success from failure was the message at the bible study last night. It was a good time. Seeing people from a different school, a rival school nonetheless, all loving God together was a blessing. But the story doesnt really start till after we got back from the bible study. The game of fuseball that ensued after our return was heated. It was going back and forth, every goal cause for loud yelling. It was 8-8 and they scored. I went to go around the table to my left to give my friend on the opposing side a fake high-five. And i ccught my leg, or so i thought, on the table as i moved forward. I looked down and saw my friends dog attached to my right thigh.
WOW.
I have never been bitten seriously by a dog before. It didnt really hurt. We were all just shocked. I knew that the dog was partial to her master, but didnt know how protective she was, until then. I didnt get mad at the dog...it was instinct. She was protecting her master from my swift advance. And i like dogs. She was adopted by my friend, so who knows what she went through in the past. I am glad that he locked her into her kennel after she bit me though, because i would hate for the same situation to occur again, but with a different person who wouldnt be so forgiving. Folks, this was a legit bite....two fang gashes, about an inch apart on my upper right thigh. Pretty sore the next day, but no gangrene yet so thats a plus.
Anyway that was one of the more exciting events of my current life, so i thought i would throw it up here...
i will hopefully be putting out some more real talk soon, but until then.
peace

Losing a Coach

Today i lost a coach.
It wasnt even up for a vote.
It just happened.
Out of the blue.
39 YEARS of AGGIE FOOTBALL.
I got 1.5 out of the 39 and i still cried.

I have had many coaches in my life.
Some i was happy to see go.
Others, it was just a shame.
This was a shock.
This was a blow.
This coach is IRREPLACEABLE.
And he wasn't even "my"coach, but then again he was MY coach.

Of course there are reasons.
Understandable, logical reasons.
There is always a reason.
But something about the emotion of football, and the coach-player relationship, dims the logic of it.

I wish my coach the best.
He is a great man.
Some people tell you they are "great" by the way they act and carry themselves.
This man told me he was great through the mouths and testimonies of others, those who's lives he touched.
A multitude.

Some say crying is outside the "manbox".
i disagree.
When you see someone pour out their heart to a football team.
Everyday, for almost half a century.
And now the path of life must take them elsewhere, and you see the pain that this causes them.
Something ought to rise up inside of you.
It did in me.

When you leave someone, something that you LOVE.
Tears are shed.
And there is no "manbox".

The vacancy will never be filled.
There will always be a cavity, a hole where he belongs.
Nobody can replace that humor, that goofiness.
Nobody can replace the ideals, the integrity.
Nobody can replace the work ethic, the one liners.
Nobody can replace the kindness, the Heart.
Nobody can replace our coach, my coach.
Nobody.

Time is the enemy.
Time is always on the move.
But time will not take from me what you have given to me, coach.
The memories, the lessons, the advice, the handshake, the pat on the back, the final hug.
Those are enshrined.

So coach.
I am disappointed that the remaining years of my football career will be spent without you on the field with me.
But know that the remaining years of my football career will be spent with the lessons you taught, and the example you were.
Of AGGIE PRIDE
Exemplified to the fullest extent.

I will see you around.
And i will always appreciate and respect you coach.
You will always be.
MY COACH.