Max, Coach K, and Jim

A few weeks ago, I watched like many of you the “March madness” men’s basketball games.  It was good to see as one of the television commentators Jim Spanarkel.   When I received my graduate degree from Duke, Jim received his undergraduate degree from Duke where he played on the men’s basketball team.   While we did not know each other, I would see him on campus from time to time.  Seeing Jim Spanarkel on television reminded me of a true story.  

Most of you know the name of Duke University men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.   You probably know that he is the winningest Division I coach in history and has many championships and other accolades to his name.  But most of you probably do not know the name Max Crowder.   Former Duke University basketball player Jim Spanarkel called him “Clam Crowder”.  Max Crowder died back in 1992 of lung cancer.   Before his death, he was the Duke University athletic trainer at Duke from the days of Vic Bubas to Coach K.    

While you may or may not  have heard the name Max Crowder, you probably do not know that for many years Max actually lived on the Duke University campus next to Cameron Indoor Stadium on the third floor of Card Gym in a room overlooking the tennis courts.  It  was the home and private sanctuary for Max Crowder though  few Duke students or staff ever visited him in that place.    Max Crowder not only worked for Duke, but he lived at Duke.  

I share that story to make a point and it is this.  One of the best known psalms to Christians and non-Christians  alike is Psalm 23.  Some call it the “Shepherd Psalm”.     In the  last verse, Psalm 23: 6, the psalmist declares:  

Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

I did not personally Max Crowder.  I have no knowledge whether he was a person of faith or not.   What I do know is that he was a man who devoted his life to Duke University and its athletic program.       He lived at Duke University, and he lived for Duke University.     “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” does  not mean to me that the psalmist believed that he would spend all his days living in the “house of the Lord”.  No, what it means  is personified in the example of Max Crowder.   As Max Crowder lived at Duke University and lived for Duke University, so I want to live my life in the Good Shepherd and for the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.   How about you?  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:   O God, give me a passion to live in you and live for you.   Remind me that life is not living unless it is found in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.