Bright Spot: 'Love the Lord' a simple, key thought for the faithful

Most of us have heard the story of legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.

He was welcoming his team back from its long offseason. He addressed both rookies and veterans while he held a football aloft and quipped: “Gentlemen, this is a football.”

Ten-time NCAA champion basketball coach John Wooden of UCLA would hold up a sock on the first day of practice every year. Then he’d show his players the right way to put on that sock for games, lest they get blisters. He pointed out blisters could cause them to play less than perfect, which would cost games.

Larry Kehres, the legendary University of Mount Union football coach, is renowned for a three-word answer to questions about his success. “Preparation, preparation, preparation.”

Kehres’ teams went over the basics so often that winning moves became automatic.

A&W fast food chains long fought to overtake McDonald’s as the No. 1 seller of burgers, specifically their lead performer, the quarter-pounder. The third-pound burger was going to be A&W’s champion. Yet it flopped even though it won a number of blind taste tests against the smaller burger. Why?

A&W found out people thought – are you ready for this – the third-pounder was smaller than the quarter-pounder.

We have heard for years that American students are falling behind other developed countries in math. Do ya think? We’re talking basic arithmetic, not algebra or algorhythms.

Going back to the basics is tried and true for coaches, restaurants – and Jesus. When asked what the most important command is, Jesus told the inquiring religious leader to “Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 10:26-31 )

Pretty basic Christianity 101.

Yet how often do we miss this bedrock truth by searching for some deep teaching or new insight into God’s will for our lives? Pretty often judging from looking in the mirror.

I do know a third-pound is bigger than a quarter-pound. Don’t ask me much more that takes math or expect me to put on a sock without getting a blister.

Rick Sams is pastor emeritus of Alliance Friends Church.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Bright Spot: 'Love the Lord' a simple, key thought for the faithful