Pride and a Sense of Belonging

I listened to Coach Al Kerns discuss his decision to come to Parkersburg and work with Coach Thomas. He had options and Parkersburg was not an attractive one at the time. But, he took the risk and became an integral part of the legacy of Aplington-Parkersburg football. He is a coaching great just like Coach Thomas and the two of them worked tirelessly to develop a program and manage the people and logistics of building a tradition. He noted one of the great achievements of their tenure as instilling pride in their teams and, by extension, in the school district and community.

Pride comes before a fall—right? Pride is conceit run amok and the epitome of selfishness. Scripture warns us about it. “God opposes the proud… (1 Peter 5:5).” How can instilling pride be beneficial and lead to positive results?

The pride instilled by Coach Thomas and Coach Kerns had nothing to do with selfish ambition or vain conceit. In fact, Coach Thomas and Coach Kerns opposed those who demonstrated selfish ambition. The pride they preached to us had to do with respect and being selfless in the pursuit of a collective goal. We were to treat others with respect and work tirelessly to make ourselves a strong member of the team. Similarly, in school and in the home we were to work to be selfless members that added to a collective vision of an upstanding and successful community.

Pride, in the context in which we were taught, was the pleasure and satisfaction taken in the achievements of the team, the achievements of others, and the contribution made by oneself toward a common goal. It spurred us on to continue the tradition, it created a tangible “buy in” for everyone involved in the program. If you were involved in the program, actively or passively, as an observer or integral part, then you sought to uphold the standards that were becoming of the pride that Coach Thomas and Coach Kerns had for the program.

In life it is easy to lose that sense of belonging and that sense of pride. That is why so many love to talk about the good ole days and long for the feeling of belonging to something bigger than ourselves. But wait…aren’t we still a part of something bigger than ourselves? Do we not work for a company? Do we not carry a family name? Are we not children of God? Today, resolve to take pride in where you are and work to make your job, your family name, and your life something to be proud of. Buy in to the selfless pursuit of seeing others achieve and become a key component in making your life and your pursuits mean something.