For every story of excitement and triumph there is usually a story of disappointment. Tonight was no exception. The journey of Jessica Hardy has been anything but straight. I don't know her personally so I just know the facts. After the '08 Trials she tested positive for a banned substance after winning the 100 breast and was removed from the team and banned from competition for I think 2 years. She continued to train, set a world record along the way and everything pointed to tonight. She finished 3rd. The top finisher goes automatically with the second usually officially named later.
Breeja Larson won the women's 100 breast over the defending world champion, Rebecca Soni. She was ecstatic, genuinely shocked and surprised. She was fun to watch as, after the medal ceremony, she cried on her boyfriend's shoulder and her family gathered around her.
There was the men's 100 back - Matt Grevers was like a little kid after winning. And Nick Thoman (a Cincinnati native who went to Mariemont High School) was second. That was great to see knowing some of the circuitous path he's traveled. In third place was David Plummer, former coach for Cincinnati Aquatic Club, who gave himself to full-time training over the past year plus. For every thrill there is often a corresponding disappointment. Not everyone can win - at least not a physical race.
Paul writes about the most important race, using a reference to the Olympic Games: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
There is a race we can all win. It's the spiritual race, the only one that counts in the end. It's not about racking up the medals and recognition. Instead the focus is the heart, the motives and intent of the heart. Strict training is involved. If your life was spiritually drug tested, would something illegal be discovered or would you be clean?
USA Swimming goes to incredible lengths to protect these athletes, filling their lives with information about drug testing, helping them understand how the processes work and more. I happened to be standing in a back hallway last night passing an athlete who was under escort from USADA (the drug testing agency). An escort stays with the top finishers until the process for that race is finished. If there's another race for that athlete, then the escort stays with them, always in sight (sort of like a chain of evidence proof for criminal forensics). That's just a small portion of what is done on their behalf. Do you have that kind of spiritual protection working for you in this great race? That's what a small group does, an accountability partner, your wife or husband can fill the role.
How do you handle disappointment? Is it personal or more about your personal response?
God has one purpose in mind for our lives - to mold and shape us into the image of Jesus. He'll use whatever He has to work with. He can use triumph and tragedy, thrill and disappointment. He can use kind and generous people as well as a difficult EGR (Extra Grace Required) person. It's all part of training.
What's your training routine? A swimmer has to fuel his or her body in order to train. How are you fueling your heart - junk food or a balanced nutrition?
"God, I don't know how you're going to use this but I trust that you will. Help me to cooperate with that work in my life."
No comments:
Post a Comment