Well hello everyone,
I just got back from a great trip to Alabama where the National Collegiate Triathlon Championships were held. I was blessed with the opportunity to compete and challenge myself physically while also growing in recognition that the strength and love of God is made available and made known to us in every aspect of our lives, and in every stroke/pedal/step of a triathlon. I was pretty unprepared for this race and it was a little scary going into it. My freshman year I didn’t go to the collegiate nationals because I raced in the Pan American Championships in Mexico trying to win an American spot in the World Championships (I was the 2nd American to finish!). Sophmore year I got injured and Junior year I put triathlons a side to focus on running (to see if I could stop getting injured). So jumping into the triathlon world not being ready to win, was a bit more difficult than I thought it would be. When I got there I automatically wished I was who I use to be. But I realized that I am who I am at the present moment, and the Lord does not want us to grow in despair or contempt because of our current weaknesses/ struggles or situation. So I decided to open my eyes and focus on the things that the Lord does want us to focus on. I decided to make the race a prayer of praise, and acknowledge the beauty of God’s creation in my own current physical ability and it’s relationship/interaction with the physical world and its elements. It was pretty fantastical!!! I’ve never been so unready for a race yet so happy at the same time. And I ended up doing pretty well.
I think this is an important lesson that needs to be remembered in all of our lives. It is easy for us to think of the past and hang on to the possibility of reversing time and changing the past instead of accepting the present and having hope for the future. As I meditated on my intentions behind my race, I thought about all those women with unexpected pregnancies. If only they were able and willing to let go of the past, their image, their weaknesses, their ruined plans exc. and were able to find not just peace, but JOY in the beautiful blessing growing inside them in this very moment. How fantastical!!! If we all practiced this more, how much of a difference can we make against the culture of death? The all powerful and loving God is always faithful, so must our hearts be filled with faith in order to be instruments of His strength, love, beauty and truth for the world. This is one of my favorite passages…
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Philippians 4:8