Monday, January 30, 2006

Ehrmann Speech - To blog, or not to blog……..

By Kim Gall, Ph.D.
Calvin College
January 29, 2006

I am much more a fan of face to face conversations rather than “conversing” via a blog.  Probably the main reason for my inclination to not write is because I think by blogging we can get so far away from what was said or not said by someone.  It’s far too easy to misrepresent someone or misread something that is written.  All that being said, here I go as a first time blogger. 

I attended the speech by Joe Ehrmann on January 12.  It’s humorous to me, but not surprising, that hundreds of people can hear the same talk and come away with such varied reactions.  It’s not surprising because all of us look at things through a different lens, one that is partly based upon our own experiences, views, and perceptions.  For me, I came away with a very positive experience.  I was inspired and encouraged by Joe’s story and the work he is doing at that school.  The only real discomfort I felt was that from “guilt” – guilt that in 23 years of coaching I hadn’t always loved the athletes I coached as much as I should have.  (please click on READ MORE)

Being a physical education teacher presently, a former athlete, coach, and women’s athletic director for many years, I have basically spent my whole life in and around sport.  It is “uncomfortable” for me, a female, that sport in society is still a male-dominated area.  But sitting in an auditorium, filled primarily by males, and listening to Joe was not uncomfortable.  Joe’s sport experiences have involved males and he was talking about his experiences, so of course there wasn’t much mention of females in the sport experience.  I was not offended or uncomfortable with this.  I can, and did, still glean positive nuggets from his talk.  However, I would be offended and uncomfortable if I felt there was no sensitivity to this.  I believe if there was an opportunity to bring a female who could speak to the female perspective of sport, the organizers would do so.

Although (as stated in Julie Walton’s blog), “there is no reliable, empirical data to confirm that sport participation builds character, leadership potential, virtue, civic engagement or all-around good kids”, I have faith that the sport environment can be a place where character is further developed and that some kids become all-around good kids due partly to the influence of coaches and teammates.  Granted, not every participant’s experiences are positive in sport.  Where do I get my faith?  My faith comes from personal experiences and lots of testimonials from people who have spent many years in the sport world as coaches and/or players.  I know of athletes who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior as a direct result of interactions with coaches and teammates during their sport experience.  With quality leadership, and with intention, I believe a person can continue to develop character and virtues throughout one’s athletic experience.

Perhaps I was not thinking deeply enough, or I missed something, but I didn’t hear or gather “an alarming disconnect in Joe’s approach between the Father’s love for us, and our ability to be godly parents and coaches.”  Nor did I gather any inference from Joe’s words that would lead me to think that he would say or believe that sport and coaching should “supplant God-given parenting responsibilities.” (referring to comments in Julie Walton’s blog).  I think we would agree - there indeed are Christian parents who have disengaged or are delinquent in their parenting responsibilities just as there are non-Christians who are disengaged and delinquent.

I am thankful that I am a child of God and that he called me to a career that includes physical education teaching and working in athletics.  As Christians we are to “agents of renewal” wherever God puts us.  There are a number of areas in sport which need to be “renewed”.  I see Joe as an “agent of renewal”, planting seeds where God has put him.  Although his approach may not work in every environment, it seems to be working where he is. 

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