Halftime

by Bob Buford

This review by Edwin M. Willmington

Are you thirty-something or forty-something? Are you approaching, in, or just passing, the mid-point of your career? Maybe you haven't looked lately and are in the middle of your productive years — and don't even know it! Maybe you should check! Well, I'm on a sabbatical for three months this summer (this was written in 1995). (If you want to know about our church sabbatical policy, please write me at emw@shepherdsstaffmusic.com). I'll tell you that sabbaticals are OK, but in some ways not what I was prepared for at all! And to top it off, a friend handed me a copy of Halftime to read!

Actually, it was a very helpful book. I don't think I knew just quite how much significance I got out of my work. I didn't feel too significant when this sabbatical started. I was plenty motivated to do lots of things, but my significance level was really low. The bottom really dropped out of my normal life in the ministry fast lane. I mean, no one even was around to disagree with my choice of songs on Sunday morning!!! Halftime really helped to focus my thought process on my life and where I had been and where I needed to be headed.

Buford's premise is that most of us guys get our education and then crank into the career game with all that we've got. In that process, most men achieve at least some level of success in the first half of their career lives. Sometimes ministry is hard to measure on the success level — especially when some parts of ministry shouldn't be measurable in earthly terms. Nevertheless, assuming that you've created some success this far in your career, what are you planning to do — just be more successful? Recently, I attended a memorial service. There was a time given when people were free to talk about their memories of the person who had died. As I listened to people stand and verbalize their memories, I began to think about what people would say when I was the one being memorialized. Would it be the size of the choir and orchestra that was discussed? How about that big C chord at the end of the Easter musical in 1991? Maybe it would be the laser lights that outlined the manger in 1993? I had already read Halftime at that point and found myself praying that "significant" things would be remembered about me — not "success" things. Things like faithfulness, compassion, hope, comfort, integrity, and quality.

In Halftime, Buford uses the analogy of a football game. Though he discusses first half and second half issues in any typical person's life, for me his helpful points were made about one's self-talk at halftime. Some of his advice was a little painful to hear, but it was apropos to my sabbatical. When taking stock of your situation, Buford says that halftime can't be noisy. HA! You need to be at peace with yourself and others — take time — so that you can accurately hear the voice of God. Be deliberate, so that you don't act foolishly. Share the journey, especially with your spouse. Be honest, in order that truth would be evident. Be patient, because you didn't get here overnight and you can't just go on too quickly. Have faith that God can provide for your second half in ways you don't always see. Any life makes those attributes difficult to digest, but they are certainly a part of the choices we all need to make.

He uses a section from the popular movie, City Slickers, when Jack Palance says to Billy Crystal that he needs to discover his "one thing." Anytime, especially at halftime, is a good time to evaluate what it is that you really believe in and what it is that turns your crank in life. I know so many people who hate their jobs. They are at least faithful to do their work in order to support their families, but they usually have something else they wish they were doing instead. For many in my world, music and often music ministry is what they really desire to do. I really do get a kick out of plugging those people into areas where they can be significant in ministry. So many people don't really have a clue about their "one thing." Halftime is a great book to help you discover what it is that motivates you and then find ways to live it out in some way. Buford even makes a point that, around age 45, you should discover at least some things that you really enjoy and give you significance. His thought is that, if you don't begin to have something going by the time you are 55, you may never find that significant "one thing." Scary! With about 20 years left until retirement for me, I'm taking a few plunges in an attempt to find something I can do of a significant nature for the rest of my life. Quite a challenge!

I guess I have to say that while I squirmed through the book in a few places, it was placed into my hand at a good time. I hope you'll take stock of where you are in your career. Maybe you need the prodding of Halftime to help you move from "just being successful" to being successful with "a life of significance."

Let me know what you discover at emw@shepherdsstaffmusic.com.

Pray hard, EMW

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