Who Are You Walking With?

Hard Knocks is one of my favorite television shows. Created by Marty Callner, co-produced by Home Box Office (HBO) and the National Football League (NFL) Films, and narrated by actor Liev Schreiber, Hard Knocks has been described as the first “sports-based reality television show.” It offers an intimate look at the unique challenges that team executives, coaches, players and staff must navigate in their personal and professional lives as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Until I tuned in a few weeks ago, I was unaware that this seasons’ show features the Seattle Seahawks. Featuring the Seahawks really piqued my interest because they won the Super Bowl last year. They won despite being consistently underrated and led by a quarterback who most people had written off. In any realm, winning is hard. But to keep on winning is even harder—and that’s the challenge that the Seahawks are facing this year. Only eight teams in NFL history have won back to back Super Bowls. Even though you may have the same players, the same playbook and play in the same stadium, consistently winning is extremely difficult because success usually breeds complacency. Anybody can win anything one time. Anybody can do anything at least once. The legendary Charles Spurgeon opined that “God can use anybody—he even used a jackass.” “But God,” Spurgeon warned, “only used him once”, alluding to the infamous scene in Numbers 22 when God initiated a conversation with a prophet through the aforementioned animal. I am eagerly anticipating each episode to see how the Seahawks are preparing to win again.

In Episode 3, I learned a valuable lesson on how winners think. I am not sure if what I learned is a key to repeat victory, but it certainly is a key to victory. Seahawks Coach Mike McDonald was sitting in his office and was surprised by a guest visitor. The visitor was Mitch Johnson, who is the Head Coach of the San Antonio Spurs. The show really didn’t explain why Johnson was there, other than to point out that Johnson is a native of Seattle. But I knew better. At least part of the reason that Johnson was there is because the team that he coaches just lost. Sports enthusiasts know that the San Antonio Spurs lost to the New York Knicks in this years’ National Basketball Association Championship Final. But even though the Spurs lost, most observers expect that the Spurs will be a dominant team in the League for years to come.  Johnson was there because he wants to win.

So even though his team just lost, he decided to go visit a coach who just won. I doubt very seriously that he just stopped by for a friendly visit. I believe Johnson came to look and to learn. In order to win, you have to spend time with winners. In order to win, you have to think like winners. In order to win, you have to walk with winners. One of the leaders in our church often says that “some things can be taught, but some things can only be caught.” When you walk with winners, you catch some things that can’t be caught from losers.

This is the principle behind the advice that Solomon bequeathed to posterity in Proverbs 13:20. Solomon observed that “He that walketh with wise men will be wise.  But a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”  The word “walk” in Hebrew refers to more than just a physical action. It is frequently used metaphorically to describe a relationship, way of life, or pattern of behavior. Solomon understood that wisdom is transferrable through association. But so is foolishness. Your traveling companions not only determine your destination. They determine your values. Your traveling companions will both affect and infect you. Their silent influence passes through every membrane of your being—for your weal or for your woe. Even though Coach Johnson was “sitting” in Coach McDonalds office, he is really “walking with him.” If you want to win, you have to hang around winners.

I read somewhere that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. So my question for you today is who are you walking with?” If you are currently dissatisfied in any area of your life, conduct an audit of who you are spending the most time listening to, talking with, or hanging around. It may be time to start walking with a different group.