As long as I can remember, my life motto has been: God, family, basketball. Before school, after school, all summer long – and still today, even after 18 years of coaching, I love being on the court.
So when I walked through the high-arched entrance and found myself surrounded by all things basketball, it felt like I had arrived at the Mecca of the game – also known as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame! Display after display highlighted the history, heroes, and hoop dreams realized by so many outstanding players.
There is something deeply inspiring about immersing oneself in a world where people have so fully dedicated themselves to developing the craft of their passions. For me, this happens in an arena that has been such a significant part of my life, but I have had similar experiences walking through great museums or other places where the achievements of individuals are on display.
And perhaps that is what resonates most deeply. When people give themselves fully to what they have been given to do, there is a sense of aliveness that is unmistakable. As Irenaeus reminds us, “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.” Whether on a basketball court, in a studio, a classroom, or a lab, that same spark is present.
Steve Jobs was known for telling aspiring innovators, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” When we discover those things – whatever they may be – that fill us with deep joy and then passionately pursue them, it can be life-changing. And not just for us, but for many others as well. As Pablo Picasso wrote, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
Perhaps that is the invitation before each of us – not necessarily to achieve greatness as the world defines it, but to live with intention, to pay attention to what brings us alive, and to faithfully steward the gifts we have been given.
In a world that often pulls us in a hundred different directions, the call is surprisingly simple: to show up, to do the work we have been given with heart and purpose, and to offer it for the sake of others. And when we do this, whether in a packed arena or a quiet, unseen corner of the world, we participate in something far greater than ourselves – a life fully lived, and a gift fully given.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart” – Colossians 3:23
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