Being Home

When Tennessee hired Pat Summitt, basketball was nothing, and Tennessee was a football school.  Summit could have done a few years there, had enough success, and then moved on to some "Big Time" sports place.  But Pat was a Tennessee gal.  If you are from Tennessee, you know what that means.  If not, you probably never will.  To her, Tennessee was not a "fly over" state that it is for most Yankees and people who live on one coast or another.  Tennessee was home for Pat, and she was going to make her teams the best.  Knoxville was not a stepping stone for her to some other job in some other state with more money or fame.  So ask yourself, do see your present situation as temporary, until something better comes along?  Is this your resume add-on job?  Is this your temporary home?  If yes to the above questions, then you won't be happy where you are and you won't see the potential in you or where your location.  Low expectations breed low results.  I went to Knoxville from San Francisco.  In the morning, San Francisco.  In the afternoon, Knoxville.  No one was impressed that I was there as the new pastor, but I was not deterred.  I poured myself into being in East Tennessee and UT, with appropriate bright orange to go with it.  I discovered Dollywood and the Magnolia Festival and a whole lot more. Over my eight wonderful years there, two or three students actually thought I did a good job, and when I left the people gave a big party.  Now it may be because they were glad I was leaving, but nonetheless, I had a positive attitude and did not see East Tennessee as a "stop-over" to better things.  It was the better thing.  Plus, I hired Barbara Lockett.  East Tennessee gals can always see the light.