Doing what they love
Taking Names and Keeping Score
Charlie Anderson
Ihad a good friend who once told me that a person should seek an occupation that they enjoyed regardless of what it paid and the money would follow. That piece of sage advice was offered in a conversation that the two of us were having about the different gifts and talents that each of us had been given as individuals. In that context we wondered just how many people there were who were actually following that course instead of taking a job they were miserable in, just because it paid well. We both speculated that there were probably more who were miserable in what they were doing than there were who were totally happy. We felt sure some of those in miserable situations were in the jobs they were in out of necessity and all you could hope for with that group was that the day may come when their circumstances would change sufficiently so that they could pursue something they enjoyed and that actually allowed them to use their talents. We also figured there were others who fit in that category who got there simply because they chose the most expedient path to their dreams of financial security if not affluence. Sadly in the final analysis we concluded there were probably only a small number of people who were totally happy in their occupation and who were actually fully using their talents and gifts.

This past week someone asked me just how much longer I thought Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden would continue to coach. That certainly was a reasonable question especially considering Paterno is 80 years old and has been coaching 42 years and Bowden is 78 and has been in the profession 41 years. My initial response was to simply say I don't know. But then as I thought about the question a little longer I added the thought that each of them would probably continue to do what they do as long as they were physically able and still enjoyed it.

As time went on that day for some reason I couldn't quite get that question or my response out of my mind. I thought about a multitude of others who like Bowden and Paterno gave the majority of their life to the coaching profession. Legendary coaches like Paul "Bear" Bryant at Alabama, Frank Broyles at Arkansas, Ralph "Shug" Jordan at Auburn, Vince Dooley at Georgia, Eddie Robinson at Grambling, Bob Devaney at Nebraska, Woody Hayes at Ohio State, Bud Wilkinson at Oklahoma, Bob Neyland at Tennessee and Darrell Royal at Texas, just to name a few. I even thought about men in this area who spent their total career teaching and coaching in the high school ranks like Hannis "Red" Primm at Clarke County High, John D. Simpkins at Jackson, Dave Boykin at Leroy and my own father D. F. Anderson Jr. here at Thomasville. I thought about how all these men in their careers inspired and molded the lives of countless young men and gave pleasure to literally thousands if not millions who watched those young men they so diligently taught, perform on the gridiron.

In their cases just like many others who are in the teaching and coaching professions I believe they first sought to do something they enjoyed and had the talent for and then had faith the money would come later. As my father often reminded me "you don't go into teaching and coaching at the high school level for the money, but if you chose to seek a career in that area there should be enough to sustain you and the other rewards you get from working with young people will make you rich in other ways." As for the college coaches we all know the financial rewards were great for them in the long run but so were those rewards they got from working with young people.

I know there are people in every walk of life who are probably genuinely enjoying what they do and who are using the gifts and talents God gave them to be the best they can be. And I know their contributions to society, whatever and wherever they may be, are significant and something we all need for the world we live in to function properly. If you are one of them I thank you for doing what you do and would encourage you to keep up the good work.

But today I especially want to pay tribute to all those who are in the teaching and coaching profession. Although I am sure some who are in the profession aren't necessarily in it for the right reasons or because they should be, I believe the vast majority are. I also believe God has gifted those who are there for the right reasons and will reward them in due time. It may be financially, although at the elementary, secondary and high school level to say that might be a stretch. It may be in longevity of life and service as in the case of a Bowden or a Paterno. It may even be through the success and acclaim those they work with attain while they are under their tutelage. But most likely it will be in the positive influence they have on the lives of the young people they come in contact with throughout their career. And the true measure of that may not be known until eternity.

For all of you who are in this category please know that what you do is a calling and not merely a job. Furthermore what you and the many others like you do in your calling will ultimately have a greater bearing on the future of society than any other occupation known to man.

Until next time…….be safe!

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