Pt. 2: Formation (Development) takes time and is not easily measured in the short-run.
Joe Erhmann, former NFL player and volunteer Defensive Coordinator for Gilman H
igh in Baltimore, Maryland, has spent his life helping boys become men.
His story, beautifully captured by Jefferey Marx, in his bestselling, Season of Life: A Football Star, A Boy, A Journey to Manhood, reminds me that growth and development are best measured in years, rather than days – or even seasons.
In a particularly moving portion of the book, a mother asks the coach how good this year’s team is going to be. In response, the coach answers,
“Won’t know for twenty years,” the coach responded. “That’s when we’ll know what kind of husbands and fathers they’ll be. That’s when we know what kind of men they’ll be.”
In a world that expects instant results for our effort, and immediate return on our investment, it’s helpful – actually vital – that we recapture the narrative that says formation/development (lasting change) takes time and is not easily measured in the short run.