We use phrases like this all of the time!
And to be honest, I vividly remember my “Naked and Afraid” type moment! Life was going great! I was back in school…..had taken a job with the football program…and was enjoying Tuscaloosa again….I was sitting in, of all places, a psychology class! It was an 8am class and I had just finished off a ham and cheese croissant from Arby’s with a coffee…..the latter from home with Coffee Mate White Chocolate Mocha Creamer!
Yes, I have my coffee standards….
I was sitting by the window looking out of Gordon Palmer Hall and listening to another stimulating lecture from our esteemed professor. It was, by all means, a normal class on a normal day. Suddenly, I felt my heart begin to race….and I mean RACE! I started sweating perfusely….I couldn’t sit in that seat for a minute longer….I had to get up and get out….to where I didn’t care….I had to get out…IMMEDIATELY!
………was I having a HEART ATTACK!!!????
………this is not Good!!! Something is Wrong!
I immediately got up and walked….as nonchalant as I could….out of the lecture and into the men’s restroom! Out of seemingly nowhere…a defensive linemen (and close friend, Juan) grabbed me and asked me what was wrong! I stumbled through my words….my terrified…embarrassed….FREAKED OUT words as I attempted to describe what was going on!
After listening for a few minutes …and waiting for me to calm down…..He then said the words that would come to resonate in my mind over the next few months.
“Kevin, everything is going to be OK…you are having an anxiety attack..or panic attack!”
My immediate thought, “What!?!?!?…an anxiety attack?! WHAT…ARE…YOU…TALKING…ABOUT?! I’m a football coach! I’m a strength and conditioning coach! I’m grown! I’m in my twenties! I’m fine! I’m not anxious! I’m not Panicking! I’m terrified…but not panicking!
Well…maybe I am!
Theres that word: HELP!…………………
I don’t even like writing it! help....it sounds so weak…so vulnerable…..so……..
“Naked and Afraid”
So, let’s get this straight…..this was no joking matter. I knew if I wanted to get through this I needed to talk to someone…an expert….someone who would absolutely know how to ….um…..HELP…..
The only person I knew that fit those qualifications was my Psych professor…a DOCTORATE of Psychology! …..I had a syllabus. I had an office number. But that wasn’t good enough…I needed…I wanted…I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WAS UP…NOW!
I looked for her other classes and I saw she had a Social Psych class in 15 minutes.. I jogged back to the building and waited….and as soon as I saw her walk around the corner…..I said, “I need to ask you a question” She said, “Your name is Kevin? You are in my 8am…How can I be of assistance?!”
I found out I wasn’t having a heart attack.
I found out I wasn’t crazy.
I found out that taking 19 hours..and working 2 jobs was NOT a good idea!!!!
I found out that stress……can….kill….you!!!
But I had to get to someone …an expert….who could help….
This message reminds me of how it feels to be scared…something I do not like! I do not like fear….it SUCKS! If you know me…the word “fear” is not something that I like to hear in my presence. But I am going to tell you something….I learned something over the next few weeks that change me mentally, spiritually, and physically! I learned what the word TRUST really meant! I had to slow down, sleep more, and focus on what was important. I wasn’t dying! I wasn’t having heart issues! I wasn’t sick! My mind was telling my body….and my body was telling my mind…. PRIORITIES ARE WRONG!
And when you are….
“Naked (vulnerable) and Afraid (Unsure of the future)”
…you will look for THE FIRST opportunity…to meet THE right person….to get THE answer!
AN EXPERT!!
We have all heard sermons that stand out to us! Jesus feeding the five thousand! Jesus Heals the Blind Man! Jesus Heals the Leper! Etc..Etc… Today, I want to give you a different perspective that literally came to mind as I was thinking about that day in 2007!
Jesus had been grinding! He had been ministering in every town he went to! He had been preaching, teaching, and preparing himself for the gauntlet for a long time. So, Jesus tells his disciples to get into a boat and go to the other side of the lake……he falls asleep! A storm arises and Jesus wakes up and calms it…….
(this isn’t another calming the storm message)!
They continue their journey across the lake and “when Jesus had stepped out on land” in Luke 8:26-39 Jesus met a man who…
-had no clothes on…(naked)
-had not lived in a house, but among the tombs…..(isolated)
-was kept bound with chains and shackles…(symbolic of being a prisoner in his mind)
-was TERRIFIED! (AFRAID!)
When the man saw Jesus……he had been waiting…anticipating the arrival of THE EXPERT!
The man cried out and fell down before HIM and said with a loud voice,
“What have you to do with me, Jesus. ‘Son of the Most High God! I beg you, do not torment me!”
Then, we are given a personal history of the man in verse 29:
“For He (Jesus) had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the unclean spirit into the desert).”
This man was naked, literally and figuratively!
This man had been suffering for “many a time”!
This man had be driven into the desert many times! (Rejected and thrown out)
This man was DESPERATE! This man had been waiting for an expert! An authority!
This man was waiting for Jesus when he stepped onto LAND! IMMEDIATELY! “What can you do with me Jesus…SON OF THE MOST HIGH!” (I know you are “I AM!”)
After the man confronted Jesus on that shoreline…..Jesus did something very interesting. Jesus asked the man,
“What is your name?!”
The man responded, “Legion”, for many unclean spirits had entered him. And they begged Jesus not to command them into the abyss.”
When Jesus asked the man for his name….Jesus made it even more PERSONAL! In other words, what is your identity? What is your situation? What is your ISSUE? In today’s term’s…….STUFF GOT REAL! Jesus was basically “Calling out” or “Sizing Up” the unclean spirits! He looked at the man and said, “I want to know how your issue is going to be identified!” And once Jesus had the name…..In verse 32…the unclean spirits waited for PERMISSION!
Yes, you heard that correct! The unclean spirits needed..
PERMISSION from Jesus to do ANYTHING!!!!!
This week you really need to read the remainder of this story! DO IT! It will absolutely shock you what happens next!
Here is a hint: Can pigs swim?
Regardless of your self image……..we have all been the man with the unclean spirits at one point in life. While we may not have had unclean spirits….we have had issues and or problems that we need IMMEDIATE, EXPERT, AUTHORITATIVE, help from!
The main thing I want us to take away from this is…..
“SEIZE YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE EXPERT!”
Be the type of person that would run to Jesus when you get your chance……
FEAR, VULNERABILITY, UNCERTAINTY, DOUBT, UNBELIEF, NEGATIVITY, AND HOPELESSNESS can creep into your life in an unlimited amount of ways! We have to mature enough to admit that we NEED help and we NEED other people. Over the past decade I have had countless texts and emails from former players, coaches, and colleagues that were experiencing a similar experience with anxiety. Each and every time they are more concerned about “keeping this between us” than they are about the issue itself! We are so good at keeping our WALL up that we forget how to be genuine! This week, take an inventory of yourself and the people close to you!
-Are you healthy? Mentally? Physically? Spiritually?
-Are there areas of life that you know need some attention?
-Are there people around you that are in NEED of your attention?
Everyone, if there is anything I want to leave my team with…it is to be ready when their opportunities come in life…
If you don’t already know him….sign up for Dr. Kevin Elko’s Monday Morning of Inspiration. Most of you have worked out to his talks…..you remember…“Think about what you are thinking about!” ! He has an incredible perspective! And to quote Dr. Elko…..for this week REMEMBER to…..
W.I.N.:
W….WHAT’S
I……IMPORTANT
N……NOW
I love you all!
CoachKD
#beready
coachkd.org 