A Different Breeze

The morning sun peeked out from behind the hills, using the clouds to display an inspiring array of colors graduating from Shades of crimson to indigo, magenta with streaks of gold reaching into a cobalt sky. Leaves of the live oaks sang a soft song of peace and hope for the day as they slow danced in the breeze. I nursed an aromatic brew of coffee between my hands and meditated on blessings and the day to come.

I spent six years working at a camp and conference center on Lake Travis in the beautiful hill country of Texas. I served as the director of recreation and outdoor education while there. An ideal existence by most standards but not without challenges. Of course, I posses a nature that needs challenging or I grow bored and irritable. The days were long but my office was the rolling hill country, a lake, ropes course and more. My co-workers were my friends, sharing trials and triumphs, we formed a great team that literally touched thousands of lives a year.

….Then I left.

Sometimes, it is difficult to articulate my reason for leaving a place, people and profession that I thoroughly loved. My wife felt the need to move back to our old home town and be nearer to family. I admit, initially, I did not share the sentiment. As I considered the possibilities, a call began to pull at my conscience. While the ministry I was engaged in was important, there seemed to be something outside the walls of our present life, a need that I had been uniquely equipped to address. About this time, I stumbled across a reference to a person that was a member of The John Maxwell Team. I knew of Dr. Maxwell through my love of books and a voracious appetite for reading. Exploring the program, I began to entertain the possibilities.

I entered the program and immersed myself in the training. I envisioned training small groups and perhaps speaking but I did not consider myself qualified to coach. I attended the training in Orlando, Florida, and began to see things differently. Coaching was calling, I was still unsure.
I dove into Christian Simpson’s lessons combined with Dr, Maxwell’s teachings and found a process that resonated. I had spent years as a successful, certified challenge course facilitator and the reasoning and processing were similar. I was convinced.

A month after relocating, I signed my first coaching client as member of the John Maxwell Team. The initial experience could not have been better. We have seen growth and action as a result of the coaching process. I find myself engaging in a profession that adds value to others and feel humbled, blessed as it adds meaning and value to mine.

As recent session began, the professional young woman’s eyes danced with light and joy as she described the events, activities resulting from our sessions. The joy was unexpected but definitely as welcome and uplifting as that cool morning breeze in the hill country.

I found these words penned by Timothy Keller and this is why I coach-

“Falling in love in a Christian way is to say,’I am excited about your future and I want to be part of getting you there. I’m signing up for the journey with you. Would you sign up for the journey to my true self with me? It’s going to be hard but I want to get there.”
― Timothy Keller

About the Author

Gary Sirkel is a Featured Writer for the John Maxwell Team Blog.