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We need to make peace

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“Success is peace of mind.” — John Wooden

I was listening to a book this morning during my run, and heard this quote from the legendary coach, John Wooden.

A quick glance at Coach Wooden’s accomplishments at UCLA makes the quote even more powerful: under Wooden’s guidance, the Bruins set all-time records including four perfect 30-0 seasons, 88 consecutive victories, 38 straight NCAA tournament victories, and ten national championships, including seven in a row.

Clearly, the man was successful, and yet he didn’t define success as the things he accomplished, but as the peace he had while he accomplished those things.

In our fast-paced, win-now-or-be-fired culture, Wooden’s quote is a powerful reminder that we can do plenty of things externally, but it’s what we possess internally that defines us as a success or a failure.

In the words of another successful person, peace that passes our understanding, but guards our minds (that’s from Philippians 4:7).

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May 24, 2024by Paul Jenkins
Written by Paul Jenkins
Paul Jenkins is lead pastor of The Gathering, a community church located in beautiful downtown Albemarle, North Carolina. He's the author of God is My Air Traffic Controller and My Name's Not Lou. Paul is passionate about his wife, his 3 children, running, reading, coaching, leading people who are following Jesus, Swedish Fish and the Carolina Panthers.