pride | Heartstone Journey

What The Chicago Bulls Can Teach Us About Pride

Recently at our company weekly seminar we invited a guest speaker who lead a conversation about ‘The Pros and Cons of Keeping Score’. The core of the presentation focused around the idea that keeping score is something we all do whether it is comparing ourselves to some ideal or to others around us. There are pros and cons of keeping score with a thin line between moving forward positively and moving forward at the expense of self and relationships with others. It was a solid message that and got me thinking about a leadership story I heard using the events of the 1994 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks. The topic was pride and leadership. I’m not talking about the pride that aspires us to become better people, I’m talking about that insidious thing inside of us that keeps us from: celebrating others, admitting when we’re wrong, acknowledging when we need help, opening up, fill in the blank _____.

The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility…According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison.

—C.S. Lewis

Let’s roll the tape back to the year 1994 during the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks. The Bulls, already down two games of the best-of-seven series, were trying to prove that they could pull out a win without Michael Jordan, who had retired at the end of the previous season.

What Nails In A Fence Can Reveal About Anger [Series]

Ever notice that people seem to be getting more and more angry these days? Road rage, riots, struggling economy, turmoil around the world…I could go on and on about the rising levels of anger. In today’s society, it seems like more and more people are lashing out. Let`s face it, we all get frustrated from time to time, and now see every day people flying off the handle in seconds…usually over the small stuff. Not sure about you, but it feels like we’re living in an angry society and it’s getting worse.

Came across this snippet that really captures the ripple effects of anger:

What Willy Wonka Can Teach Us About God’s Promises

Whether you’re new to the Christian faith or have walked it out with Jesus for years, have you ever pounded your head against a tree trying to wrap yourself around versus such as:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. -Philippians 4:13

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. -Matthew 17:20

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. -John 14:13

We all want to believe versus like this, but many of us don’t experience the promises that these verses offer. Have you noticed that no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem do ALL things through Christ?

What A Stump Can Teach Us About Pride

So what is pride? If you Google ‘definition of pride’ your browser will tell you that pride is a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.

Ok, got it…so what’s the big deal?

Before we walk this out, it’s important to point out that there is a difference between the kind of pride that God hates (Proverbs 8:13) and the kind of pride we feel about a job well done, being proud of our kids, etc. The kind of pride that stems from self-righteousness is sin, and God hates it because it is a big hindrance to seeking Him.

You don’t have to be in a leadership role to struggle with pride, because we all struggle with it. In some context of your life, we are all setup by what we have, who we know, what we can do and what we can do — and there are so many options on the remote control of life that programs us for pride.

From a young age it was easy for me to take the remote control of my own life; point it at myself and select prosperity, position and power. It didn’t take long to feel the rush of this new found pride that began to take root in my life. With pride as my rudder I quickly moved up the ranks and was promoted to the position of Vice President in my mid-thirties of a global billion dollar company, which was rich and fertile soil for my pride to grow. I had the miracle grow of pride.

I share some of that story in this excerpt from my book Heartstone:

Why “Game Of Thrones” Is Not An Original Idea

We all have desires in life, but what happens when our desires are so self-serving that the ripple effect has a long reaching negative impact on others. I was reading about the story of King Zedekiah and I learned that Game of Thrones is not an original idea.

Let me frame up the story.

What The Chicago Bulls Can Teach Us About Pride

What Nails In A Fence Can Reveal About Anger [Series]

What Willy Wonka Can Teach Us About God’s Promises

What A Stump Can Teach Us About Pride

Why “Game Of Thrones” Is Not An Original Idea

Favorite Quotes

Cool Scripture

Never Out Of The Fight!

Resources