“It’s not about rugby, it’s about young men. It’s not about building championship teams, it’s about building championship boys, boys who will be ‘forever strong’.” – Coach Larry Gelwix
Ok, first off, a movie was made based on Coach Gelwix and his rugby team. Forever Strong is a very good movie and I recommend it.
Coach Gelwix knew that inner strength is forever strong. Focus on the inner man (the spirit man), develop his character, his discipline, his moral compass, his values, and his ability to listen. Do these things and the outer man (the physical man) will be able to contribute far more to the family, the team, and himself.
Now don’t get me wrong, the Coach worked the physical man with tough conditioning and focused physical discipline, but he understood that one has to take dominion over the other and to be a true champion the inner man has to take dominion over the outer man. If it is the reverse the true champion is suppressed.
Coach said he has only one rule for his players. Don’t do anything that will embarrass yourself, your team, or your family.
Ok, what does all that mean to us? Inside each one of you is a true champion. You see, God doesn’t make mistakes, and he made you. You were designed in such a way that if your inner man is developed and disciplined and takes dominion over your outer man, the true champion comes to the surface. A true champion is others focused and has a lasting positive impact on his surroundings. A true champion disciplines himself and puts his energy, efforts, and resources into seeing to it that those around him succeed.
Invest your energy, efforts, and resources into the lives of those around you. Make a difference in their lives and they will make a difference in yours.
Now I’m not talking about being a door mat or a pushover. I am talking about being a strong person on the inside so that you can feel confident about investing in others. When you are strong on the inside you won’t worry about being less than or that investing in others will take away from who you are. Remember, no candle loses anything by lighting another candle.
Besides, the coaches philosophies led his Highland Rugby Team to a record of 361 wins and only 9 losses. With a record like that, Coach Gelwix’s methods must have some validity.
