Remain Calm

 Two questions to focus on this week:

1)      Can we keep calm and handle strife?  Strife is defined as bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension.  As officials, hopefully, we don’t face physical strife.  However, we certainly face verbal strife.  To navigate conflict and to calm the situation, we need to possess two attributes:  patience and understanding.  We need patience to listen, and we need understanding to determine how to best diffuse the situation.

A touchy, hot-tempered man picks a fight, but the calm, patient man knows how to silence strife.  Proverbs 15: 18

2)      Can we calm our tongue under pressure?  When we face pressures of any kind, one of the first things we lose is control of our tongue; basically, we become careless with the words we speak. Under stress and pressure, we feel angry, impatient and on edge. On the field, are we able to control what we say when facing the pressure from coaches or that unusual play situation that must be discussed among crew members? To remain calm under pressure and to control what we say, we need to develop an understanding heart of others.

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.  Proverbs 17:27

An understanding heart allows us to slow down, control our emotions, and have compassion for those people applying the pressure.

There’s no use arguing with a fool, for his ranting and raving prevent you from making a case and settling the argument in a calm way.  Proverbs 29:9

This verse explains that sometimes arguing is just not useful.  Mainly because the person who you are arguing with is not in the right mindset to receive your response calmly.

We will face conflicts in life. We will experience pressure and adversity on the field. Remember, seek patience and understanding and control our tongue.

“By staying calm, you increase your resistance against any kind of storms.”