February 19th, 2024
By Paul Cypert
It was my high school sophomore year and luckily we had a sophomore basketball team of which I was a member and starter. So, as needed by the coaches I bounced back and forth from the JV team to the Sophomore team as needed. I was skinny and undersized but I loved the game. And I had this big dream of starting on varsity for the Bulldogs! Busting through the paper entrance circle onto center court of the Dog House.
I was a long range bomber, a spot up shooter as they say today and could shoot the ball, accurately. But, it began to dawn on me that if I was going to live the dream, play at the next level, that I needed to add some elements to my game like defense and some crafty passing skills. So, I worked hard at becoming a really good defensive player and skillful assister in the passing game. Big reason for this shift was that there were a lot of good spot up shooters because everyone wanted to score a bucket in the teams. Eventually, I lived the dream, a varsity starter. Landing the starting role wasn’t all that hard because I had become the defensive player on the team, led in takeaways, 2nd in assists, disrupted, adversely affected, harried and hurried players on the other team, plus I scored a lot of points, bonus added.
Playing defense; inside of the scriptures is a call to live life defensively, Like guard your heart with all diligence.
To know and admit that as Jesus says, “offenses will come”, storms will rage (attacks), marriage is lived in close quarters and will test you, there are good relationships and bad ones, and there is temptation. As Jesus said, “in this world you will have trouble” and then said, “but take heart I have overcome the world”.
So, having a good defense is essential. Defense is premeditated, it’s intentional, an assumed posture. And as Paul would imperatively command; put on the whole armor of God because there are simply days that at your best you only hold the ground you stand on.
You know what they say, ‘great offenses win games but great defenses win championships’.
MITIGATING MISTAKES:
Definition: Mitigate; alleviate, reduce, diminish, lessen, weaken, lighten, take the edge off, ease, assuage, cushion, damp, deaden, dull, appease, soothe, relieve, help, soften, temper, still, quell, tone down, blunt, dilute, abate, lull, pacify, placate, mollify, excuse, commute.
All people from all walks of life make mistakes and all people sin. They offend, anger, hurt, destroy something valuable, lie to; friends, family and business associates.
None of us will avoid making mistakes. So, when you do, what do you do?
By understanding that most people, including people of faith, to admit a mistake, apologize and make up for it seems very difficult, and that should make every one of us uncomfortable if not astounded if we are authentic followers of Jesus.
Because we are the people of a clear and distinct fellowship of, confessors!
Proverbs 28:13 KJV
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
What is painfully obvious? The truth of scripture just doesn’t correspond with the reality of experience. People rarely own their mistakes. They deflect, defend, disappear, blame shift and often play the victim card.
It is rare for folks to actually take responsibility for their mistakes.
A step up would be; own it!
And that starts with understanding owning a mistake is not like eating or sleeping, it’s more something you learn. Meaning it doesn’t come to us naturally. For sure, early on as a younger person it was really difficult and to this day I have to be intentional!
Admitting your mistakes then, is an acquired skill.
Here’s the defensive game, because you need to understand what it does for others (the recipients of our mistakes) and what it does for you. It has the power to make small mistakes go away for good and larger ones much better.
When a mistake is owned, you are defending against the potential of loss; loss of relationships, loss of a job, organizational destruction, loss of business associations and the polarization of family members, and the loss of personal integrity.
I cant pre-determine the outcome of owning it, in fact some folks may want to see you squirm, but being right with Jesus and myself is much more important than how they respond!
My last thought … I don’t like eating crow and for sure it’s an acquired taste... but I will.
Regards,
Paul Cypert
I was a long range bomber, a spot up shooter as they say today and could shoot the ball, accurately. But, it began to dawn on me that if I was going to live the dream, play at the next level, that I needed to add some elements to my game like defense and some crafty passing skills. So, I worked hard at becoming a really good defensive player and skillful assister in the passing game. Big reason for this shift was that there were a lot of good spot up shooters because everyone wanted to score a bucket in the teams. Eventually, I lived the dream, a varsity starter. Landing the starting role wasn’t all that hard because I had become the defensive player on the team, led in takeaways, 2nd in assists, disrupted, adversely affected, harried and hurried players on the other team, plus I scored a lot of points, bonus added.
Playing defense; inside of the scriptures is a call to live life defensively, Like guard your heart with all diligence.
To know and admit that as Jesus says, “offenses will come”, storms will rage (attacks), marriage is lived in close quarters and will test you, there are good relationships and bad ones, and there is temptation. As Jesus said, “in this world you will have trouble” and then said, “but take heart I have overcome the world”.
So, having a good defense is essential. Defense is premeditated, it’s intentional, an assumed posture. And as Paul would imperatively command; put on the whole armor of God because there are simply days that at your best you only hold the ground you stand on.
You know what they say, ‘great offenses win games but great defenses win championships’.
MITIGATING MISTAKES:
Definition: Mitigate; alleviate, reduce, diminish, lessen, weaken, lighten, take the edge off, ease, assuage, cushion, damp, deaden, dull, appease, soothe, relieve, help, soften, temper, still, quell, tone down, blunt, dilute, abate, lull, pacify, placate, mollify, excuse, commute.
All people from all walks of life make mistakes and all people sin. They offend, anger, hurt, destroy something valuable, lie to; friends, family and business associates.
None of us will avoid making mistakes. So, when you do, what do you do?
By understanding that most people, including people of faith, to admit a mistake, apologize and make up for it seems very difficult, and that should make every one of us uncomfortable if not astounded if we are authentic followers of Jesus.
Because we are the people of a clear and distinct fellowship of, confessors!
Proverbs 28:13 KJV
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
What is painfully obvious? The truth of scripture just doesn’t correspond with the reality of experience. People rarely own their mistakes. They deflect, defend, disappear, blame shift and often play the victim card.
It is rare for folks to actually take responsibility for their mistakes.
A step up would be; own it!
And that starts with understanding owning a mistake is not like eating or sleeping, it’s more something you learn. Meaning it doesn’t come to us naturally. For sure, early on as a younger person it was really difficult and to this day I have to be intentional!
Admitting your mistakes then, is an acquired skill.
Here’s the defensive game, because you need to understand what it does for others (the recipients of our mistakes) and what it does for you. It has the power to make small mistakes go away for good and larger ones much better.
When a mistake is owned, you are defending against the potential of loss; loss of relationships, loss of a job, organizational destruction, loss of business associations and the polarization of family members, and the loss of personal integrity.
I cant pre-determine the outcome of owning it, in fact some folks may want to see you squirm, but being right with Jesus and myself is much more important than how they respond!
My last thought … I don’t like eating crow and for sure it’s an acquired taste... but I will.
Regards,
Paul Cypert
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