I love football.  Hometown High School, college ball, and pro, in that order.  I am a fan of Friday Night Lights, and every football movie made, (well, almost…I’m not into the spoofy football movies – it’s much too serious a sport for that!)  and most of all football players! 

 I married a football player.  I like them because when they get hit, they get back up. (Probably why I like bullriders, too.).  does it hurt?  Yes.  But the shake it off, line up and try again.  They get four downs to get it right.

 Our local football team took a hard hit on Friday night, losing for the first time in 16 games, in the last 45 seconds.  But I had to give props to both teams…they didn’t stop fighting until the last second. 

Last week we talked about Character change – going through the first elements, the Glimpse of Hope, the Invitation to Change, and the Need to Change.  All these elements take place in the first act of the story. 

 The second, and subsequent steps of character change are much like the ten yard run/four downs of a football game.  

 Attempt (and failure)

Cost consideration

Rewards

Desire

Attempt and mini-victory

 Let’s take a closer look at the football metaphor:   They have the ball, they need to make their ten yards, and they line up, and run the first play.  Maybe the drop back for a pass, and our hero, the QB, is sacked.  Worse, he’s injured. 

 Now they huddle up. Obviously, the defenders have heard about their amazing passing game, so they’ll have to try a different tact.  But their superstar fullback is also out of the game (with a mean cold, thanks to this MN weather), so the tailback might not get the blocking he needs for the sweet play, and if the QB steps in to block, he might get further injured by the rather large senior playing on defense.  However, they are on the twenty yard line, and six points down, with a minute left on the board.    And, they are second in the state, if they can win this game. 

 So, they run the sweep, and sure enough they get the first down.    But the QB is taken out, which opens the door for act 3 – when our hero, the QB, has to decide if he’s really the hero everyone is counting on….

 So, maybe that is too much football on a gloomy Monday (at least it is here in Northern MN), so let’s break it down. 

 Attempt and failure.  The next stage in the journey is the attempt by the hero to go after the prize, to rescue the fair maiden, or stand up to the bully, or face his fears….and his attempts not only fail, but sometimes make everything worse!

 Remember when Frodo is enticed to surrender the ring to Galadriel, the Noldorin princess?  For the first time, he realizes that he is not quite strong enough to bear this burden, if even she can’t.  It frightens him, and  he’s overwhelmed with the task.

 Give your character that first attempt, the pass play, or the run up the middle, only – stop him in his tracks.  And if you can, make it worse. 

 Then, you’ll be in a place to draw him back to the huddle to consider the costs…tomorrow’s topic!