Jack’s Winning Words 2/24/14
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”   (Vince Lombardi)  Over 2800 athletes participated in the Winter Olympics, but fewer than 300 medals were awarded.  Are gold, silver or bronze the symbol of success?  In the Olympics, as in life, the reward is in the chase toward excellence.  As Vince said, “Go “chase” the right thing.”  BTW, why do you suppose Jesus said, “Be perfect?”     ;-)  Jack

 FROM HONEST JOHN:  Vince also said "Winning is the only thing".   I would think, therefore, that his statement might be interpreted a tad different than the interp. that you put on it....====JACK:  I think that the correct version of the Lombardi quote is: "Wanting to win...is the only thing."  BTW, I'm glad that the Detroit Lions have hired Vince's grandson to be one of their coaches, because "we" want to win!

 FROM DOCTOR PAUL:  I'm reading a very interesting book "Who Owns The Future" it isn't a fast read, but it speaks to this issue of winners and losers====JACK:  I think that it's about time to "retire" loser. as a pejorative word. ====PAUL:  Unfortunately, economically, we are developing a working class that is losing economically.====JACK:  Given time, things have a way of turning around.  Sadly, we each have a limited amount of that product.====PAUL:  Many of them become my coaches as they challenge me in seeing what I might say or do to bring about a solution to their inquiries!! 0:-/====JACK:  The wise person is both a teacher and a learner.

 FROM TARMART REV:  Good word for the start of new week . . . chasing Perfection . . . "all I ask, to be like Him!"====JACK:  Vince said that you'd be better off chasing excellence.  In fact, that seems you are doing just that as you sit there at Target eating your popcorn and waiting for "customers."

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  I think it is right to chase perfection even though it is unattainable. It will eventually show one's limitation, while at the same time utilize all the "talents" with which one has been blessed as its steward. At any point of limitation, it becomes clear that one needs God. Our success and achievement is always insufficient. If it were not man would have achieved perfection by now! Paul seems to continuously talk about being "in Christ" and have Christ "in you". In Christ we find the perfection that without Christ we can do only the great things -- of which Solomon refers to as "vanity". So, let us be filled with the Holy Spirit in all that we do so that it is perfected by the Will of Him who is perfect.====JACK:  When a dog chases his tail, all he gets is the joy of the chase and exercise.  BTW, is the chase after excellence similar to the chase after perfection...never achievable, but always worthwhile?====RAY:  I think that it is. If nothing else, one eventually discovers the vanity of one's own effort. Yet, as in the parable of the talents, one also will necessarily use all of one's talents in this vain effort. Is it possible to surrender before one even knows what one is surrendering?====JACK:  Speaking of "knowing"....One of these days I'm going to use the Socrates quote: "I know that I'm intelligent, because I know that I know nothing."  Perhaps you're aware of the mid-19th century "No Nothing Party" which had views similar to some of today's politicians.

FROM FATHER TIM:  This was great!!  You always have such great insights but this one was a homerun. ====JACK:  I thought you might have said that it deserved a gold medal, and I would have replied, "I was just chasing excellence."

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  I was thinking of those 2500 superior athletes who did NOT take home a medal of any color, last night during the closing of the games....so many who gave their all, but had only the experience to show for it. But I doubt any of them rued being there and competing. Imagine being included in such an elite group!  They had all reached excellence in their field, but the slushy snow and ice made the going a bit rough this Olympics.  I  read Vince Lombardi's  biography, When Pride Still Mattered" which both my athlete husband and coach son enjoyed (it won the Pulitzer Prize),   and he was a complex, flawed and driven man, but powerful in what he accomplished in the troubled era of the 60's!  His quote in the book was ,"Winning isn't everything, it's not even what it's cracked up to be....but WANTING to win is!" My son took that motto for his teams.( He (John)is in the IL coach's Hall of Fame, and in Springfield Athletic Hall of Fame BTW)  I think Vince was a fascinating individual!====JACK:  I think of the thousands and thousands of athletes who wanted to go to the Olympics (medal or not) and were not chosen.  For the true athlete, the excitement is in the participation.  I loved playing ping pong, but was never picked for the Olympics.

FROM PH IN MESA::  to show his listeners that they could not attain to perfection and that they should stop trying so hard and just accept the unconditional grace and mercy of God.====JACK:  Thanks for a good answer.  I'm going to use it in a conversation that I have planned for today.