Editor’s note: Jeff Spadafora is our Director of Global Coaching Services, and has served on the Halftime Institute team since 2005. During a retreat, he wrote a poem… the first time he’s done so as an adult. In it, he surmises the Halftime experience very well. 

 A Journey
by Jeff Spadafora

Smoldering discontent
just below the surface.
Nameless, unidentifiable, real

Seeking success and man’s approval fuels
the frustration – the heat turns up.

Vain attempts to
apply impotent worldly salve to the wound.
More wilderness – adrift –unvoiced. Suffered alone.

Purpose and peace yearned for but
Pride and Comfort block the Truth.

Depravity and scandal blessedly avoided but problem unsolved.
All strategies prove hollow.
Spirit broken and finally ready to explore the way of humility.
Perhaps the path has already been paved. What’s to lose?

Clues about joy and meaning
bubble up from words of ancient wisdom.
Step by step. Verse by verse. Story by story.
My fingers are pried from my view of life
and prejudice against religion.

Blessed insight: I am imperfection separated from perfection
paying the price forever… and now.
God is real. Christ is real. The blessings are real.

The heart slowly softens.
Salvation but not freedom. The Truth stalled as a moral code.
Mere glimpses of joy.

A light is shone on discontent revealing its true colors: Disobedience.
It’s a new plateau – Halftime – and the old villains (Pride and Comfort)
return again to block the rest of the freedom freely given.

No choice but to go deeper—deeper into authenticity — deeper into
confession – deeper into foreign waters that call for a new level of bravery.

Nothing is in sight. Its all in faith. Trusting – imploring –the Holy Spirit to
convert knowledge into belief and relief.
Holding onto a promise that new insight will arrive.

Real joy finally tasted and now promising in return to pass it on.

Jeff Spadafora
Jeff Spadafora is a Master Certified Halftime Coach and a Lead Faciliator for The Halftime Institute. He spent 20 years as a leadership and executive development consultant for Fortune 1000 companies such as Ford Motor Company, Easter Seals. Compassion International, Compuware, Domino’s Pizza, Visteon, Northern Trust Bank, and Helene Curtis.

In 2005, Jeff was inspired by Bob Buford’s book Halftime and began his journey of discovering God’s true purpose for his second half. As he worked with his Halftime coach, it became clear that his calling is to help other people discover their calling.

He has coached over 130 men and women through the Halftime Journey and continues to make this a primary part of his ministry. As the leader of The Halftime Institute’s global coaching staff, he is also responsible for recruiting, training, and managing Halftime Certified coaches throughout the world.

Jeff served on the staff leadership team for ten years and was the lead designer of the Halftime curriculum and one of the primary facilitators of workshops for groups of people embarking on the Halftime journey. Jeff also writes and speaks globally about the issues of life purpose, joy, and kingdom impact.

His latest book, The Joy Model: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Life of Peace, Purpose, and Balance, is the result of a decade of personal growth, life coaching, coach leadership and study. WWW.THEJOYMODEL.COM

Jeff lives in Evergreen Colorado with his wife Michelle and has 3 children. He enjoys fishing, hunting, skiing, mountain biking and everything else the great outdoors of Colorado has to offer.

“Too many people focus the better part of their lives on the wrong things: the company’s agenda, other peoples’ ideas of success . . . money. Over time, this leads to frustration and emptiness. True freedom comes as a people discover their God-given design and pour themselves into service for others.” –Jeff Spadafora


Checkout Jeff's Articles:
The “Cowboy” Approach to Your Second Half Just Doesn't Work
What Should I Do With My Life?
I Lost My Heart
A Journey
An Ancient Halftimer

Listen to his podcasts:
Eternal Leadership - Coaches Corner
Eternal Leadership - Smoldering Discontent
Knowledge for Men
Theology of Business
Professional Christian Coaching Today
iWork4Him - Joy and Happiness