Yes, my book review of Tony Dungy's book, Quiet Strength.  Handyman brought it home for me, unexpectedly, and it was either that or a Midwest Living magazine from 2003.  Since most of my reading is done, in the "reading room", in 30 second bursts between dressing Polly Pockets, throwing the tennis ball, expounding on the virtues of putting your boots in the boot trays, and hauling animal manure, my reading has got to be concise!  At a scalding pace of 2.3 paragraphs four and a half times a day, I'm a book blazer!

Anyway, the book is quietly inspiring.  I enjoy the football history and the peek into Tony's personal life.  I appreciate his fallibility and human-ness.  Mostly I am inspired by the seemingly small things that have made his life different, things that I can do too.  I really like that he openly seeks God, often, but never gets the big voice or the dramatic moment.  He watches for the burning bush, but like me, mostly gets the muted curb of events that directs your course of action without fanfare or display. 

It is pleasurable to me to see a Christian on a world stage whose Christianity is pervasive and priority one, yet his daily walk is not some amazing, supernatural thing.  It's just everyday faith--same questions, bigger issues than mine certainly, but consistency and directional effort are what pay off--and motivate me.  His players play for him out of admiration and respect, not fear or intimidation. 

I was struck the other day thinking how only one of my children has played a team sport and that was one season of pre-little league with a coach who was our friend.  She did great, but frankly it was pre-skill play, if you know what I mean.  Now, I am not a team sport endorser, by any stretch, but while reading Coach Dungy's book, I recognized some value to the whole team thing for my household.  We are a little flock of big individualists here.  Often I see us as all being in separate boats on the same bay, during our days, almost parallel lives; which I think is bad.  So, how can I use Coach's book to impact my flock and make it more team-like?

I have valued independence too much, sometimes to my children's detriment, I think.  I pushed #1 too hard as a little one, to not need me.  I mistook independence for strength and I think pushing her away from me, emotionally sometimes, had a reverse impact which I am still struggling with.  I'm working on this philosophy for 2008 that rolls in some Coach Dungy, some Flylady (not just the cleaning parts), some John Lyons (horse trainer), Michael Pearl and a little Phyllis Diller. 

What I'm seeing is, as usual, I need to work on me.  I need to keep providing a great example working around here, but I also need to build a team out of these little hoodlums, one with a central focus or several actually.  But grammar and history are not the core.   I don't remember when I learned about adverbial phrases, but I can tell you that the lack of that knowledge has not been a detriment to my personhood.

Sometimes I worry that I'm just coming up with creative ways to give myself a bye on subjects my kids want to avoid, but really it's just more out-of-the-institutional-box reality.  I would venture to guess that 98% of the population could use more character building and less grammar instruction.  More family time laughing, even if folding laundry, and less time writing essays.  I came across a lot of old papers yesterday (and pictures, hee hee) and found stuff I couldn't remember doing, but stuff that seemed is completely worthless to my life.  Graded papers that at one time tried to shape and mold me, that now I know were just silly.  Stuff that justifies the institution.  I look forward to the time when college becomes much more a la carte, without the ridiculous hoops we all have been through.

I see I have rambled off topic.  But remember, there's always more!  I am now reading Coach Dungy's book with #1.  I want her to see "ordinary" faith, in action with a famous person.  The book is very reader friendly, for tweens on up. 

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Posted by mykidsmatter2

My heart ached for Tony Dungee with the loss of his son... But reading your review makes me want to read his book even more... Thank and have a great week!!

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