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July-September,  2023

Guidance with My Changing Role

by Rev. Larry Glenz, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

After spending 15 weeks in Florida as a snowbird, I returned to my home on the south shore of Long Island in late April.

Although the high school lacrosse season was already two months old, I have joined the coaching staff as a volunteer coach for the final month of the season. I have served as a coach in some capacity for the Lynbrook Owls for the past 50 years.

This year, however, has been a little different for me. There have been some changes in the coaching staff and, although I am still welcomed back from my extended vacation in Florida, it took little time for me to see that the voices of authority were now different.

My ego was challenged by this. I no longer had the same comfortable role with the new coaches. I felt my voice was no longer needed, even though I was treated with warmth and respect when I first arrived. The team was struggling and the coaches were at their wits end in trying to right the ship.

But my ego was in full stride. I was the veteran coach with all the experience. But there was no room for my voice for the solution to our mediocre record at this point in the season. And I felt my presence would likely aggravate the new coaches’ frustrations. It was a bad feeling for me.

I recognized that I did not like the way I was feeling. As I have been taught, I turned my hurt feelings over to Holy Spirit.

My daily practice with the Workbook of ACIM had me on Lesson 135, If I defend myself I am attacked. Several lines stood out to me.

“A healed mind does not plan. It carries out the plans that it receives through listening to wisdom that is not its own. It waits until it has been taught what should be done, and then proceeds to do it.” (W-135.11:1-3)

“What could you not accept, if you but knew that everything that happens, all events, past, present and to come, are gently planned by One Whose only purpose is your good.” (W-135.18:1)

These lines from Lesson 135 had the desired effect on me. I now felt that I was being guided to step back from being a coach after 50 years, and to be their biggest fan.

I have a good relationship with the kids and I will continue to talk to them individually on the sideline. But my strong coaching voice is now silent when it comes to giving direction. I attend practices occasionally and come to all the games. I pat the players on the back and give a lot of “attaboys” for encouragement. During games I stand on the far end of the sideline away from the coaches and try to help to keep the energy high.

My life as a high school athletic coach has been extremely rewarding. I feel as if Holy Spirit has given me some tips on how to stay involved without being a threat to the actual coaches who are being paid by the school to do the job.

Keeping my ego in check is a full time job, however. Losing games still has a tendency to bring out the worst in me. But I am very appreciative of Holy Spirit’s Guidance when my thoughts tend to wander towards frustration.

Spirit’s Guidance in stepping back, stepping aside, and letting myself be guided in my actions is a very good feeling. And I am grateful always for this. Let’s go Owls!

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