I once heard a story told by former Buckeye and NFL legend Chris Spielman. It’s been several years so I’m sure I’ll miss a detail or two but this is how I remember hearing it.
Chris was in his rookie season with the Detroit Lions and in his first mini-camp. Truth be told, he was getting destroyed by the older, wiser, stronger players. Play after play the linebacker was getting blocked, missing tackles and getting increasingly frustrated. He came out for a play and while on the sideline, began telling his coach how frustrated he was. He was also making excuses why he didn’t make the tackle and wasn’t making plays. That’s when his coach said it.
“Chris, I can’t hear you. Your actions are speaking too loud.”
Chris Spielman finished the story by saying that when he went back in for the next play, he absolutely lit up the running back. Part out of frustration and part out of anger that he knew his coach was right. His actions didn’t match his message.
I was driving in my car the day I heard that story on the radio. I have never forgotten it because I was so pumped up when Chris told it. He told it much better than I can type it but you get the idea. It was inspiring and humbling.
In this life we get up every morning and our actions tell a story. One of my favorite life quotes says it like this
“You can say what you think, but you will live what you believe.”
In our home, our school, our place of work, we can spend the day saying all of the things we believe. We can preach our mission and our message but are we living what we believe? Are our actions speaking so loud that the other players around us can’t hear or believe our message any longer? I’m guilty of it. It happens so easy. Commit today to some self evaluation.
Let’s live out the message we’re preaching. Let’s have our actions match our mission.
