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| It may involve wrestling. |
I've noticed recently that we all have a tendency to "scoot" out to our furthest range and cut out the margin...then we're surprised when something isn't working. We recently started coaching our local Little League basketball. Within a few minutes on the first practice, we had kids trying to long bomb the super 3-pointers right off of Dude Perfect while they were struggling with a simple layup. Similarly, in coaching some 4-H archery...kids wanted to shoot at the really long-range 3-D dinosaur target...right off the bat. In both cases, we ended up with airballs crashing around the other kids and arrows skidding across the floor. In both cases...we were missing the target. In both cases, the answer is pretty simple..."scoot closer."
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Sometimes bring rotten
apples. |
In other parts of life, we tend to forget we're the beginner and go for the long bomb, Tom Brady style Hail Mary. Quickly, in practicing some catch in the backyard...the kids had scooted out to where they had to use all their muscles to make the whole-body super throw. Scoot closer. When we are beginners and start too far away from our target, we have to cheat our consistent form in order to compensate for the distance. In doing so, we learn and reinforce bad habits. Over time, these become habitual, and we struggle to get past our training scars or habit ruts...and they drag us into the ditch. I remember an Army shooting instructor who could shoot the target holder's clothespins off the target holder...consistently. He could do so because he'd practiced for years on end. By the end of the school, those of us who had worked the basics could hit them more often than not...the students who'd gone for the gimmicky shots early...still couldn't do it.
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| Sometimes not too close. |
For most any "hand-eye-coordination" skill, it's important to scoot closer earlier to get the right form down...then...as our basics build and we improve, we can increase the distance. With the strong foundation we've built, the results will come...but only if we have the footers in place...from a lot of short-range work. It was said that Michael Jordan would shoot "short shots" in bed every night with a basketball to work on just the right form. His mom probably wouldn't have been tickled if he'd been launching 3-pointer distances across the house every night. The results speak for themselves...he grew to where he could scoot further away...only after he scooted closer.  |
You might need
a pokey floormat. |
The metaphor, like most metaphors we talk about here and in life, can hold for the rest of your life...not just your ability to throw a baseball. When we think about our parenting and our marriages, it's very easy to let distractions drift us apart from the things that we say matter most. During busy seasons of life, it's easy to let the distractions and worries of the day drag us further and further away until we're an island or boat in the middle of a lake. When you're in one of those detached moments, it's important to...you guessed it...scoot closer. Often, our physical proximity can help lead our mental focus back to where it needs to be. We've talked about "be where your feet are at" many times, and physically scooting closer can help us on the first step back to re-connection.
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| You build from crawl to run. |
If you've slipped further away, intentionally or just drifted, it's time to come back...to scoot closer. I'm always absolutely shocked at how fast time flies. We recently chatted with an older gentleman selling his house to move closer to the hospital after his wife had a stroke..."we lived our dreams, and now they're gone" was his storied warning. You have to be intentional and proactive about scooting closer to your kids and spouse...today. Don't wait for the perfect moment...just take the moment you have in front of you and...scoot closer. Go for a walk and hold hands. Go out for dinner. Stay up talking. The point is...lean in and focus on your loved ones.
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| Sometimes it's messy. |
On a similar note, if you feel like you've drifted away from God and your faith in our busy and fallen world...good news is...you can scoot closer. By going to church, attending a small group, being intentional about praying, listening to K-Love or AirOne, and reading your Bible...you scoot closer back to God. Good news is that he's there...always and forever. You just have to set aside whatever holdups or hangups that have you too far away...and scoot closer. We don't have to have everything just right or just perfect to begin...we just have to take that intentional step...to scoot closer.
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| Be ready for results. |
Whether you're a new beginner on an actual skill or hobby, or you've slipped away from what was working...we can scoot closer. The coming closer helps us get our form consistent, our habits routine, and our results on autopilot.
This scooting closer can be the actual, physical scooting closer or the directing of more time, energy, attention, and focus on a particular topic. Finances are going nuts...scoot closer to paying attention to your budget. Kids slipping or marriage stagnating...scoot closer in time and space. Whatever the case...scoot closer and get ready for the results. With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!
Call to Action:
- Pick out three areas or small moments where you can lean in and scoot closer this week. Do three of them.
- 1 - ___________________
- 2 - ___________________
- 3 - ___________________
- Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action) in terms of where you've scooted apart and how/where you'll scoot in.
Further Reading, Motivation, and References:
- Bring Your Spouse Closer Than Ever
- Grow Closer as a Couple - Focus on the Family
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