Prepare

Over the weekend, I was catching up with a friend, and we started talking about kids and sports. One thing I’ve learned from coaching baseball and softball this year is this: you have to prepare the kids to act—and then get out of the way.

Too often, our instinct is to direct (or let’s be honest, yell at) kids in the middle of a play. The result? A dozen parents and coaches are shouting, “Throw it to first!” and the poor kid stands there frozen like a deer in headlights.

It’s far better—for everyone’s sanity—to prepare them ahead of time. “What will you do if the ball comes to you?” “What will you do if it doesn’t?”

Playing sports is hard. It’s not just about physical skills; it’s about making quick decisions under pressure. That’s mental.

And it made me reflect on my own life. How many times have I hit a moment of struggle and found it even harder because I wasn’t prepared?

The same principle applies to the spiritual life and the life of virtue: What will I do when this situation comes up?
When my kids are bouncing off the walls past bedtime?
When my boss is in one of his moods?

Prepare to act. And when things don’t go as planned? Reflect. Adjust. And prepare again.