Creating A Masterpiece

What are you creating today, a masterpiece or a ‘good enough’? A creed John Wooden, the famous University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) basketball coach, was given by his father upon his graduation from high school and lived by had this significant line—‘Make each day a masterpiece.’ This creed led Coach Wooden to become an incredible husband, a cherished friend, and one of the greatest coaches of all times.

Unfortunately it is very easy for us to just get through a day rather than viewing that day as a canvass upon which we are to create something wonderful to God’s glory. I believe the latter outlook is what was envisioned in God’s command to man in the Garden of Eden, “subdue it [creation]; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28). Humanity’s taking dominion over creation was their way of thanking and glorifying God. This outlook is what led the Psalmist to boldly proclaim in Psalm 118:24, “This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” The Psalmist clearly realized the great opportunities present in every new day.

Here are a few ways we can transition from creating works of mediocrity to masterpieces with our days:

1. Begin every new day with thanksgiving to the Lord. Define your days, don’t let others or other events do that for you (Psalm 118:24).
2. Seek to do your best ‘as unto the Lord’ in all that you do throughout your day (1 Corinthians 10:31; Proverbs 22:29).
3. Don’t allow difficult situations and people to take you off your focus in a day (Colossians 3:22; Romans 8:28).
4. Take a creed, a set of fundamental beliefs, to guide your approach through a day. Here’s the full creed that John Wooden lived by:
“Be true to yourself,
Help others,
Make friendship a fine art,
Drink deeply from good books and especially the Bible,
Make each day a masterpiece,
Build a shelter against a rainy day,
Give thanks for your blessings and seek for guidance.”

Have a masterpiece of a day!