“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:17 CSB

With “stay home” orders enforced due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), I found myself catching up on new movies and re-watching old movies. With the “Skinny” popcorn in hand, I recently watched “Coach Carter,” a 2005 movie based on a true story. In 1997, Coach Ken Carter (played by Samuel L. Jackson) returns to his high school alma mater in Richmond, California to revamp the school’s basketball team (Richmond Oilers). Carter had also played for the Oilers during his time at Richmond High. Unlike during Carter’s basketball days, the Oilers had experienced several losing seasons and the graduation rate was now approximately 50 percent and only 6 percent went on to college. Carter was very aware that a kid who grew up in Richmond was 80 percent more likely to go to jail than to college. Needless to say, these kids did not envision a promising future. Coach Carter took a special interest in his players on and off the court. He knew a good education was the key and would give them a better chance at success. Coach Carter’s philosophy was accountability; integrity; how to be a good follower; teaming; and family. He believed in hard work and discipline. He requested each player sign a contract indicating they would: (1) maintain a 2.3 grade-point average; (2) maintain perfect class attendance; (3) sit in the front row of their respective classes; (4) submit homework on time; and (5) wear shirt and ties on game days. Coach Carter requested progress reports from each of their teachers. Within a short period of time, the Oilers were 13-0 and were headed for the state championship. The players were excelling on the basketball court; however, many were failing academically—they were not upholding the terms of the contract.

As a result of the players not fulfilling their obligations, Coach Carter padlocked the gym doors punishing the entire team. Each player had to meet in the library along with tutors. The players, parents, and principal were all outraged as a result of Coach Carter’s bold move. They felt the boys were only capable of playing basketball and nothing else. Thankfully, Coach Carter thought differently. He wanted to give the boys a different perspective—a different mindset. He had to change the way the players thought of themselves. As stated in Matthew 9:17, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins”—it is not compatible just as you cannot put new ideas into an old way of thinking. Albert Einstein defines insanity as repeating the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. A change has to be made—a new mindset equals new results. After a week-long lock out, the team returns to the basketball court after meeting the conditions of their contract. The movie did not have a story book ending—the Richmond Oilers lost the state championship; however, they had gained so much more. After the loss, Coach Carter commended them for playing like champions and never giving up. He told them they had achieved what many people spend a lifetime in search of—“the ever elusive victory within.”

Countless times, I have been asked if I am a sommelier (wine steward). I am not a sommelier; however, I am “New Wine” which inspired the name for my life coaching business—New Wine Consulting. Throughout the past several years, I have shared with you many of my life defining moments—those pivotal moments that transformed my life forever. Like a grape, I have been harvested, sorted, de-stemmed, and crushed. Just as the grapes were crushed, so was I. I was crushed by divorce, financial setbacks, insecurities, rejection, and loss of loved ones. As a result of that crushing, I found my true self. In his book, titled “Crushing,” T.D. Jakes compares these painful experiences to winemaking. “Like the grape, God has called us to live out his purpose; however, before this is done, we will have to also be crushed meaning going through some pain and sufferings, adversities, and setbacks. What we might consider as an awful circumstance is God’s crushing and pressing.

Just as the grape transforms from the vineyard to a fine bottle of wine on your dining table, so were the defining moments in my life—they were painful and devastating, yet transformative—I am “New Wine.”

If you are interested in a free 30-min coaching session, book an appointment at calendly.com/new-wine-consulting.