Easy vs Hard

In general, when faced with the choice between easy or hard, most people pick easy even without knowing what the task is. But in life, easier is not always better. Consider the following things in life we face or do and the difference between easy and hard.

In life,

Criticizing is easy…Contributing is difficult.

Complaining is easy…Finding a solution is difficult.

Judging is easy...Listening is difficult.

Pointing fingers is easy…Leading is difficult.

Being offended is easy…Being unoffendable is difficult.

Bonnie Sala, President & CEO of Guidelines International Ministries, states the Bible illustrates we were made to struggle and to become better through difficulties.

Matthew 7:14: For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life; those who find it are few.

Romans 5: 3-4: Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

Humans are made to do hard things because out of failures and struggles, we grow. In Matthew 7:14, Jesus teaches that the way to abundant life is thru the narrow gate which is hard and very few do the difficult work. Jesus then teaches in Romans 5 that we can stand tall in our difficulties because of what is produced—perseverance, character, and hope.

Officiating is hard. Because of how difficult it is, very few people try to officiate. Then, to do it well there are struggles, sufferings, and frustrations such as learning rules and mechanics, making the wrong calls, and not getting the assignments we think we deserve. But, when officials persevere, it is rewarding emotionally, mentally, and physically to know we are part of a game so many people enjoy. Now, let’s look at easy verses hard in officiating.

In officiating,

Criticizing other officials is easy…Being critical of yourself is difficult.

Disagreeing with assignments is easy…Officiating any game assigned is difficult.

Dismissing evaluation is easy…Learning from evaluation is difficult.

Accusing others for your mistake is easy…Owning your actions is difficult.

Worrying what supervisors and coaches think is easy…working the next play is difficult.

Do difficult work!

“Great faith is the product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.”
― Alex Harris, Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations

Thermostat or Thermometer

Thermostats set temperature, whereas thermometers measure temperature. Even though both thermostats and thermometers deal in monitoring temperature, they are used in very different ways.

During the COVID pandemic, one of the common tests to measure body temperature involved using a thermometer. If your body temperature was elevated above the normal 98.8 degrees, you were “running a fever” --one of the signs of a potential virus.  The thermometer provides vital information concerning one’s health by measuring the temperature.

A thermostat, on the other hand, helps regulate the temperature. When the weather changes, we use the thermostat connected to our central air and heat unit to regulate the temperature in our home. The thermostat is critical to helping us change the temperature to be comfortable. It helps us to be more proactive in controlling a desired temperature.

In life, there are times we need to be a thermometer and times we need to be a thermostat. As a thermometer, we observe what others are thinking, what they are saying, and how they are reacting. We gauge the temperature of our surroundings. As a thermostat, though, we regulate the temperature. When the temperature is rising around us, we can be the thermometer to have positive influence.

When we feel tension from players and coaches, we need to be able to measure the degree to which the “temperature” is rising. Then, we need to be the thermostat that regulates the temperature and comfortably handles the situation. How do we use our thermostat to influence the temperature around us? (1) listen intently to coaches and crewmates, (2) use positive verbal and non-verbal language when communicating, (3) be understanding in difficult situations, and (4) display good character by doing the right thing at the right time.

Paul encouraged “son in faith” Timothy with these words in I Timothy 4:12, Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.  Paul challenged Timothy to be a thermostat by being the example.  Paul wanted Timothy to influence and impact the world and not let the world set the temperature in his life.  The world around us often sets the temperature and we simply fit in, fly under the radar, and go with the ups and downs of life. We merely live by the temperature set for us by others in our culture.  The challenge is for us to set the temperature.  How do we do that? Romans 12: 2, Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will."

A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any more than a lion needs the approval of sheep.

Under Control

The weather forecast shows a 90% chance of snow with a low of 25 degrees. Road conditions are expected to be hazardous and local authorities are asking people to stay home and avoid traveling if possible. In that scenario, what is out of and under our control? Weather conditions are out of our control.  If it snows, it snows. The low temperatures are out of our control, and we can’t control the road conditions.  In these conditions, what are things within our control: (1) staying home and turning up the heat or starting a fire to keep warm, (2) if we go outside, wearing proper clothing, and (3) if we have to travel, wait for road maintenance to clear the road or expect to move very slowly.

In officiating, many things are out of control such as our schedule, game time, player and coach reactions, and fans. Even though these particular items are out of our control, many officials spend a great deal of time over-thinking and worry about how we are impacted by them.  How do we move or maintain our focus on what we can control?

The first question is “what can we control as officials?”  Let’s make it simple and call it a “PR”—Preparation and Response.  Let’s examine “PR” closer.

Preparation: we can control our preparation for each season, each game, and each play. Preparation encompasses being physically, mentally, and emotionally ready.  It also includes taking care of our responsibilities off the field with our families and job enabling us to be prepared for our officiating responsibilities.  Robert H. Schuller, TV Evangelist, quoted in one of his sermons “Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation.” Preparation is often not fun and can even be boring. But, the result of being prepared is rewarding.

Response: We don’t control the responses of others—coaches, players and fans.  However, we have total control over our response. Our goal should be for our response to be clear and calm. When coaches ask for explanations, provide clear and concise responses. When coaches are out of control, we need to stay calm with limited body motions and facial expressions along with a calm, but stern voice.

Luke 6: 45:  A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

This verse is from a sermon Jesus was giving to a crowd that gathered around him. His teaching emphasized the importance of a person’s inner thoughts and the relationship to outward behavior.  Jesus’ preaching highlights the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and actions. We are reminded that what is inside of us will eventually come out in our words and deeds.

When we control our thoughts, outward appearance, reactions, and speech, we are better prepared to respond to the things that happen around and to us.

“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't.”
― Steve Maraboli