I’ve often wondered what would happen if I actually took Jesus seriously about taking up a cross to follow Him. His words are stark. Hard. Harsh. Shocking. But there is something about them that makes me think freedom and life are found on the other side.
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Lk 9:23-24; emphasis mine)
According to Jesus, life is on the other side of self-denial and daily cross-bearing. True life. Joy. Freedom. Our true selves. I wonder if that’s true?
Consider Dan Monson.
Dan Monson is (was) the head basketball coach for Long Beach State University (LBSU). His team has had a rough season. They finished 5th in the conference and lost 5 straight to end the regular season. Before the conference tournament (Big West), administrators at LBSU informed Coach Monson he would not be coach at the end of the season. His 17 year tenure there was finished.
In a most improbable, but very March Madness inspired way, LBSU went on to win three games in a row and cut down nets celebrating as Big West Conference champs. The Beach (as they are called) won it all and found themselves scheduled to play Arizona in the first round of the Big Dance. When administration was asked if they would be reversing course on their decision to release Monson, they stuck to their guns. Regardless of a tournament run, Monson will only coach through the end of the current season.
If you’re tracking, Monson is not the head basketball coach at Long Beach State University. Well, he is. But not really. His time there is over. He’s dead to the administration. He has nothing to lose. When he (inevitably) gets eliminated from the tournament? Doesn’t matter. If he wins it all? Doesn’t matter. The 62 year old coach is done at LBSU.
What does it feel like to be dead? What does it feel like to have no stake in the game? What does it feel like when the cross has been placed upon your shoulders?
When the life you imagined for yourself is taken away, one can have any number of responses. Anger, denial, pleading, scheming, despair, or all of the above. What seemed like certitude gives way to the free fall of precarity. But those who have lost everything also have nothing left to lose. For Monson, his death became the gateway to freedom. In a press conference that, according to Fox Sports, has gone viral — coach had some interesting things to say. Here are a couple of insightful quotes:
“I’ve reflected this week that, I don’t have a job, but I don’t need one. I’ve got everything I want with my family, with my players, with my friends.”
“I don’t have to answer any questions I don’t want to, because I am working for free today.”
“Stay in the moment.”
“It’s been a life-changing week, and in a good way. And next week, I’ve got a house payment, a car payment. Don’t know how I’m gonna do it. But I don’t really care.”
What does feel like to take up your cross? Freedom. Life. Joy. Relief. Release. Peace. You can say things like “I’m working for free today,” and “But I don’t really care.”
Had Coach Monson tried to fight back, tried to hang on to his job, tried to convince the administration they made a bad decision, or tried to stick it to them by winning, then there would only be tension and anger and bitterness and angst. Though we can’t say for sure, the probability is pretty high they would have lost the first game of the conference tournament. In other words, had he tried to control the narrative (i.e., his life), it would have only brought more pain and stress. When control was removed and everything buried? He was able to freely live. When he lost his life, he found it.
I can’t help but believe this gives us a taste of what Jesus is getting at in His call for us to daily lose our lives. The release of control. Surrender the outcome. An unconditional openness to whatever the future may hold. Let Another bring resurrection and write the story. There’s freedom on the other side of this. Relief. Sometimes the worst thing turns out to be the best thing.
Last night, Long Beach State fell to second-ranked Arizona in its opening game of the tournament, but Monson was far from dejected. Smiling and blowing kisses to fans as he walked off the court for the last time, Monson called himself “the luckiest guy in the world.” You’d think he had just achieved the unlikeliest of Cinderella upsets. Despite all evidence to the contrary, it seems he did.
Hey just wanted to say this is a great article, it’s in times of great hardship one’s character is shown. I think Mr. Monson passed with flying colors.
Hey John! Thanks. Yes. You are correct. Remarkable character demonstrated by Monson.
Matt
I was fortunate to work for Coach Monson when he got the job in Minnesota , had Three great years on his staff and we are “family “ as he said in his response to me when I sent him a message after his win . What makes him such an awesome dude is that his responses are exactly how he coaches , he’s real. I haven’t been in his huddle the past 17 years at LBDU but what I can tell you is “He’s a great guy who comes from a great family “ Big Don as we all call him is very proud how his son stood with a smile . He carries a cross just as he should . He’s a leader of men. My wife (Tona) and I had a son who was born with a blood disorder when we were on his staff , Dan and Darci were amazing to us although I had accepted another job somewhere else , he told us to stay as long as we needed to for our son. That’s a winner !
Wow! Hey Arthur, thanks so much for sharing this and taking the time to write it out.
It appears Coach Monson is an amazing man. Thanks again!
This is a nice story, a feel good story, attended his father’s basketball camp at the University of Idaho in the early 80’s…. I just hope he gave as much effort with regard to motivating student-athletes to earn an education and diploma…. in addition to teaching them the game of basketball.