As I was en route to the 2016 College Football Playoff Game between Alabama and Michigan State in Dallas, I passed a sign letting me know I was 179 miles from my destination. I started to consider how our “destination” was such a variable measurement in different areas of life.
-How long until I graduate?
-How long until I turn 21?
-How many more dates should I wait before I propose?
-How long before we get pregnant?
-How many more job interviews do I have to go to before I’m hired?
-How long before I move into a house?
-How many more payments until my student loans are paid off?
To some people I know, their “destination” is a house in the suburbs with a nice yard, dog in the backyard, son in little league, and daughter in ballet. Other friends want a Lotus, a flat on the Upper East Side, and a couple of girlfriends. Others have a much different “destination” in mind involving their own restaurant, church, tattoo parlor, skateboard shop, bar, etc.
Anyway you want to look at it, everyone has a concept of their “destination” and what it will take for them to know they have “arrived”. The moment when you look at your journey, the heartaches, bruised egos, sacrifices, and breathe a sigh of relief that all of your work has paid off!
This week’s message isn’t about the “destination”……instead….this week’s message is about recognizing where you are when you are still 179 miles out….in a place that while you may not see the importance of the lonesome highway….it may be the MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR SPECIFIC, UNIQUE JOURNEY.
Driving has always been memorable to me. I can vividly recall many of the important drives I have made in my life. To be honest, I could probably make the drive from Chattanooga to Tuscaloosa and not even think.
Seriously though, I remember one such journey that changed me! I had verbally accepted a Coordinator position at a school in New York and I was feeling a little, um, apprehensive..to say the least! I was driving from Tuscaloosa to Upstate New York with a stop….somewhere….anywhere….along that route. Let me just tell you: Me, alone, in a car, for 16 hours is NOT a good thing! I think I talked myself into taking the job… and then talked myself into turning it down…at least 5 times..in the first 2 hours of the trip. This cycle repeated itself several times…with the intensity of each decision only growing…..
The journey was changing me!!!
I stayed outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for my short night of sleep before I resumed my drive to New York! I read my One-Year Bible plan and made phone calls to my core…to get some unsolicited confidence and courage. It was in a moment shortly before bed that something came to my mind that changed the entire trip…
“This is what you went to college for! This is what your Mom and Dad sacrificed for! This is what you prayed for when you were waking up at 4am for workouts at Alabama! This is why you worked two jobs as an undergraduate student! While you may be having second thoughts….you are living what most people would consider a DREAM! You are going to get to live in NEW YORK for a year! You will be blessed by playing at West Point, the US Naval Academy, Princeton, Yale! You will meet coaches that will become lifelong friends! You will coach players that will play at schools across the country! THIS IS YOUR JOURNEY….THIS IS A STOP IN YOUR PROCESS….THIS WILL BE A MEANINGFUL CHAPTER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOOK OF YOUR LIFE! ENJOY THE JOURNEY WHILE PREPARING FOR YOUR ARRIVAL! “
“Kevin, This is what you have prayed for……since 1999!”
I was still anxious! I was still a worried! I knew I was trained by the best…and I knew I had the connections to make this thing succeed….but I was going to a place outside my comfort zone…..to a place that felt a heck of a lot farther than 179 miles….
But God wanted me there! God had people there to take my blinders off! God had battles He wanted won! He wanted me there! He needed a Coach!
As you guys know, I draw a great deal of strength from reading the bible and applying it to our current world. It struck me this week how many characters in the bible were changed in the process of a journey…..or when they were still 179 miles away. The most striking one to me was Paul on his commute to Damascus.
You can read the story here:
Saul on the Road to Damascus!!!
Saul was not what you would call a great person….he just wasn’t! His mind was directed, not toward helping Christians, but harming them. He was….basically a violent, abusive, war seeking, Criminal! He was on his way…his journey…to Damascus to continue his assault of all things Christian when something happened.
A MOMENT! A MOMENT THAT CHANGED HIM…HIS MIND…AND HIS DESTINATION!
GOD STOPPED SAUL! God stopped him dead in his camel’s…erh…his horse’s….”whatever Saul was traveling with’s” tracks! God brought Saul to his knees and spoke directly to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” After Saul and God converse for a moment….Jesus drops a line that makes anyone on a journey in life jump:
“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do!”
During this conversation on the road to Damascus….God did two different things that only He can do! He changed Saul in two distinct….and incredible ways!
- God showed himself to Saul and gave him direction and purpose…in a word, REFOCUS!
God showed Saul where to direct his abilities and how to focus his gifts in the right direction. ONLY GOD CAN DO THIS!!
2. God changed Saul’s name to ….you guessed it …….PAUL!
God had a new title for him……new mission….new title. God said, “Here’s how I’m changing you on your journey….here’s you a new name….and even though you are 179 miles out….I’m going to change your focus to change the WORLD….they are even going to write this thing called the Bible one day and you will have a big part in it! Now, I am sending you some people to assist you…so get your mind right.”
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If you have had the time to read this message…you owe it to yourself to read the actual story at the link above. Here’s why….God’s light was so bright during their conversation…Paul was BLIND! He couldn’t even see the next leg of a journey that God had just assigned to him……He had to travel in:
FAITH!
Look, I don’t have a clue what your personal definition is of your destination is! I don’t know for certain what moment you will realize that you have “Arrived”! Due to travel and life’s process, I may not even know where you are in your journey! However, I want to tell you something I have learned. Your journey will require 4 things for you to arrive at your Destination:
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Focus and Re-Focus: Your focus will need to be adjusted….from time to time. It rarely comes at a convenient time…but you will need it to continue. You may be destined to be a Head Coach….but you may have been using that talent to manage a restaurant or bar! That wasn’t God’s plan for you….so your focus needs to be..ADJUSTED….
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Your title may change periodically: But so will your responsibilities and development. Before you can be a Head Coach…you need to be a Coordinator, Position Coach, Graduate Assistant, Recruiting Coordinator, Strength And Conditioning Coach, and Intern….EMBRACE THE ROLE. Also, respect each and every role you have….you will be hiring your replacement one day!
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Blind Faith: Just like Paul…it will scare the heck out of you! You may not see the next step, mile, flight, win, contract….shoot….you may be making $149 every two weeks in southern Virginia…..but you know where you are….179 miles out!
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People: When you see a turtle on a fence post…know it didn’t get there by itself. Your journey will require people…and their journey will require you!
Before I leave you guys and gals for the week, I want two very specific favors from each of you. I want to know you are out there and how you are doing. Let me know! Secondly, I want you to listen to one of my favorite messages of all time…From Bishop T.D. Jakes..and it refers to our story….Saul on his journey to Damascus:
START AT THE 20:00 MARK….
I love all of you and am thinking about you ….every mile along your journey!
#CoachKD
coachkd.org 
Very good! What is the link to the TD Jakes video?
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