thankful for: athletics

I have a boot on my foot. It is quite uncomfortable and it hinders me from keeping up with my 'east coast pace.' I have never been a fan of running until recently. All my life being involved in sports it was used as a form of punishment so I have always dreaded it. Now that I am not able to run I miss it. It has become a form of therapy and a way to release stress. While traveling I would love to break out in the cool crisp air on a fall day and pound off each stress as my feet hit the ground. Yesterday I was reminded of the amazing impact being a part of sports and athletics has had on my life.

I watched as students ran, pushed, lifted and squatted as they worked their bodies to the max at an FCA event. I smiled and cheered as I hobbled along side them as they ran up and down an inside turf field. Between each event these student leaders huddled together in prayer, asking God to give them strength and encouraging each other through each task. After 8 physically draining competitions each team was worn out. We could all see it on their faces. They were physically spent but their minds were still going. One of the FCA leaders got up and started to explain their last task. Before she started she asked the crowd of sweaty students who their I.D was. They responded "only J.C." (Jesus Christ) She yelled in a louder voice and asked how they competed. The students enthusiasm was present through their exhaustion and they yelled back "1 on 1!" This was their chance to have a one-on-one. This final activity was a 1 mile run around the outside of the building. She explained that this was their time of worship. This mile could be taken as fast or slow as you want it and just pray and talk to God. She talked about praying for an upcoming season, difficulties at home or anything they wanted to. With each step they were to just spend time with the Creator who gave them this ability through sports.

I was helping with the clean-up as the students started their mile and made it outside as the first ones crossed the finish line. There was cheering all around as each student passed through and finished. Before I knew it there was hugging, high fives and more and more clapping. I saw each of these students completely spent but going back for their teammates to finish with them. There was one girl who was struggling to finish and one of her leaders went back out to find her. As they crossed the finish line the entire group burst into cheering. I watched as these leaders were hugging and some crying but all of them were encouraging each other. As we headed inside I was walking with one of the leaders and the girl who finished at the end ran up and gave her a hug and I heard her say, "Thank you for coming back for me." I could hear her emotion in her voice and knew that it meant so much to her.

My heart was soaring as I packed up at the end of the night. It was such a great time hanging out with these students who are part of leadership teams at their schools. They can take what they learned yesterday back to every part of their lives. In the end, the point of the event was to keep focus on God through it all even in the midst of intense competition.

That is what being an athlete is about. To be able to leave it all on the field, mat, or court when you finish. But, the ability to glorify God through it all is what separates the Christian athletes. We have one big cheerleader that will never get quiet. He is not only at every game but a every practice, every scrimmage, every pre-season workout. He is glorified by us realizing that He gave us this ability and by giving it back to Him is the biggest blessing of all. Because at the end of the day when we are extremely spent and can't take another step He comes back for us and we get to finish the race together.