Beat the Press

Now I can't remember the year, but many winters ago the John Marshall High School boys basketball team ran a suffocating full-court press defense the entire game each night they took the floor.  For the unfamiliar, a full-court press is when the team on defense attempts to smother the offensive team player for player; as close as possible without fouling them.  The goal is to not allow the offensive team to get the ball on the court.  If that happens, then the next goal is to make it extremely difficult to dribble, pass, and of course score. Each defender needs to stick to their assigned target like saran wrap.  Because the Justices were athletic, quick, and defensively skilled, they were pretty successful with this scheme.  Many teams would become frustrated; screaming at themselves for not being alert enough and crying to the referees for fouls.  In the end that all amounted to nothing and they would lose.  Still, with this brilliant plan, not even mentioning Jayem's talent, they were unable to reel in a state championship (I don't think they even won the Central Region the year I'm referring to).  Interestingly enough, it wasn't because there were many teams that were more talented than them, because that number was very small.  But those squads that were victorious had a keen understanding on how to beat the press.

A few days ago I was awarded the opportunity to interview a 2012 College of William and Mary graduate for an entry position with my organization.  This, however, was by no means a run-of-the-mill interview; as I vividly remember the applicants' humble (term used loosely) beginnings 8 years ago...when he was brought from off the street to the group home I supervised.  It didn't matter to his parents that the young man was polite enough for children of any generation.  Nor were they concerned that he was in the top 3 of his class.  But for a reason I still can't identify, they didn't want him and they made that unnaturally clear.  Despite being discarded during his most precious years of his youth, and putting his trust of care in the hands of total strangers, he decided to excel.  Now, the kid who had more than enough chances to whine about the pressure he was under is about to get paid for helping people prevent what happened to him.  That, my friends, is victory.

The key to beating a full-court press is to be able to remain calm.  Such is the case with the pressures of life; for calamity only increases the chances of allowing ourselves to be overtaken by tight circumstances.  We Christians have been shown that a consistent outward display of joy for God will show others how to live above our emotions.  Along with that, we will experience the peace that can be only provided by Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:4-7).  Besides, if we serve the God of the breakthrough, why would we act like the pressure is too heavy?

Or maybe you have those outbursts because you haven't realized yet that you already won.

Peace