Bend or Break

Steve Shaw, CFO Secretary Rules Editor and National Coordinator of Officials, stated the key to success for officials this year will be “Maximum Flexibility”.  Think about things around us that require flexibility:

·    ** Driving a vehicle: We are constantly changing and adjusting to other drivers and our environment.

·        ** Airplane Pilots:  Think about Captain Sully and landing his plane in the Hudson River and the amount of flexibility that took.

·       ** Families/Marriages:  If we aren’t flexible with our families, life becomes difficult.

·        ** Probably the two greatest changes we’ve seen in our lifetimes happened in March, and still continue today. First the COVID crisis hit our nation.  For EVERYONE to be impacted by a health crisis at the same time is unprecedented.  Then, at almost the same time, racial tensions and injustices reached what I consider a boiling point. 

As officials, our “normal” was taken away as well.  Scrimmages and clinics were cancelled; summer meetings were moved online.  Now that the season is upon us, a “normal” football weekend will not look normal this year.  So, what do we do?  “Maximum Flexibility”—let’s look at what flexibility means:

Flexibility requires us to stop or alter a certain course of action, to allow others to merge in front of you, to see a situation from another's perspective. Flexibility is defined as "capable of being bent, usually without breaking; adaptable, willing to yield; pliable…. Pliant stresses an inherent quality or tendency to bend that does not require force or pressure from the outside" (Dictionary.com). True flexibility isn't forced upon us. Flexibility is a natural quality that comes from within, from our true God-given nature.

Have we ever thought about flexibility coming from within?  Circumstances may call for flexibility, but how we handle the circumstance comes from within.  Our personal nature determines if we are flexible and bend, or if we break.  As humans, and as football officials, we don’t want to hit a breaking point.

Is there ever a time NOT to be flexible?  Certainly!  There are numerous things we should not be flexible on.  Some examples are cheating, murder, and stealing.  Jesus used flexibility in His ministry.  Many religious leaders during Jesus time were frustrated with Him because Jesus didn’t often follow the “rules”.  Jesus healed the sick on the Sabbath; Jesus touched people who were ceremonially unclean; Jesus ate with people He wasn’t suppose to  according to religious leaders.  But, one thing Jesus was NOT flexible on was His mission:  He knew He had to take up the Cross, bear it. and rise above it—conquer the sins of all humanity.

Philippians 4:12-14 (New International Version)

¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

These verses instruct that no matter what I face, I can be content and satisfied in all circumstances—and the key is flexibility that comes within me.  But, remember where the ability to adapt and yield comes from—Jesus and His Holy Spirit guiding our daily walk.

Consider things we will have to be flexible with during the football season: Schedules, Travel, Pregame, Arrival to the Stadium, Masks, Electronic Whistles, Communication.  We will no doubt face challenges never dealt with before.  But, let’s not forget what we cannot be flexible on—"Extraordinarily serve all stakeholders of the game of football by consistently achieving and clearly communicating best-in-class officiating.”—Brandon Cruse (Big XII Referee).

Bottom line, we are still expected to perform our officiating responsibilities at the highest level—with no excuses.  And, for atleast this season, the way to do that is MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY.

“Plan B' might have been 'Plan A' all along.”