Sporting Our Spirit

A Gift of Hope from an Airline Passenger

2011-10-29T14:44:00.000-04:00

An airline passenger who brought me hope……

To be like a child can be a good thing. Why? I think it relates to trust, an openness to “possibilities” not limitations. When I fly, I often think of Jacob, my son who died in 2004. Lifted to puffy clouds in an endless sky ignites mystery and brings Heaven closer to Earth. Likely, this is a childlike mind-set that heaven is in the clouds. But the ritual of remembering gets me to thinking. This thinking about loss is tricky, especially of my son. More often than not, the Jake connection is likely to bring me to tears. Being a private person and in the airport sea of strangers, I do all I can to hasten along these thoughts, closing with a prayer to the Almighty Coach for encouragement. “Get me through this. Make the thoughts happy. Help!”

Do be careful what you pray for. Here come-ith the lesson. This day, Oct. 25, I was flying back to FL out of my stopover in Chicago. Boarding, I found my aisle seat and stood waiting for my seat mates to annoy, crowd, entertain, or enlighten or some combination. A large, elderly (86 years-old) woman took the remaining middle seat. Being a book lover, I am often curious about what others are reading, especially travelers. Our chatting began then over the book she was reading. She told me a story that came straight from her heart, and (I believe from) heaven. I am not sure what to do with it, so I am writing it down. Her conversation began about the book she was reading, Heaven is for Real. The book was a best seller. It’s about a boy who almost dies, actually he may have died during an operation but lived. She said a relative gave it to her because she had a son who had died a few years ago. At age 21, he had suffered a terrible accident was left paralyzed. So this mom took care of him for some 50 years. Here was her answer to my question” “To what do your attribute your long and healthy life? “Well,” she said, “God let me take care of my son all those years. I could not stand to think he might have had to live in a nursing home. He had tons of friends and a wonderful attitude. You know ,” she said, “he never complained about his lot in life. Well, just once….He banged his fist on a wall and yelled out, ‘Why me, God?’ I went to the wall, she said, and I pounded back, ‘Why me, God?’ She said, he laughed and so did I. He added , ‘You really do have it worse than I do, don’t you, Ma?.’” I grabbed my hankie with the peppermint and eucalyptus. It was all I could do to keep it together. I wanted to understand the pieces of her story as they related to me and to Jacob. What would my life have been like caring for him for the rest of his years? Would he have been able to laugh at life? Not likely. He had all he could handle even when his days were good. I know this woman beside me is/was a “presence”. Yes, on an earthly note, she takes up a lot of my already cramped airline space. But on the spiritual side, she has been gifted to me this day. Just as my heart was sinking remembering Jacob, my childlike mind prepared for a “possibility” and another angel appeared. It happens quite often. “I’ve got him,” says my Lord. Yes, because I am an athlete, & because I do have a childlike imagination, I like to picture our Lord like a great outfielder. He will catch us every time, & most gently at our finish, He will catch us for all time. Indeed, He has my Jacob. I pause, I look over at her, this 86-year-old. I don’t know her name. Her book is down, as she quietly mouths the words to the Rosary, fingers working along a lovely wooden bracelet. Thanks be to God. Let me remember you Jacob in the way that God always remembers each of us: full of love, goodness, and of course….Possibilities.

"Narrow is the Gate" Find the way to be encouraged.

2011-07-11T08:42:00.000-04:00

We have so much to be thankful for.

I just "happened" upon this inspiring blog here today. It's from Therese at Beyond Blue or Beliefnet. The message contained is something of which I remind myself and others regularly. I say: "Step away from the self." It's so hard during life challenges when you think you are already maxed out, to reach within for more reserve. Yet, when we put our eyes & hearts back on our Source of Creation & Power, we know we were created to persevere. As a coach, I use fitness challenges to help others get stronger on many levels. You need a higher level of RPM,s to rev up your "gitty up" I think. This adding fitness to spiritual conditioning has worked well for me and others. Then, my setback, first day back home after being away from training and the clients I train. Don't you know, an accident, I hit a dip in the road, rolled my ankle and cut up my opposite knee. Holy Crap, as Frank Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond would say. The coach is the cripple right now. No idea just yet how bad. The fall happened yesterday, a Sunday. I am doing all the right treatments, RICE- rest, ice, compression (not yet), & elevation. Moving about is nearly impossible. The right knee is stiff and cut up. The left ankle is severely swollen and refuses to bear weight. Yet how can I complain? This too shall pass. I know that is the truth....somewhere. Anyway, thank-you all for sharing your challenges to remain "encouraged" in spite of the obvious discouragements. Your perseverance through adversity helped me today. You are doing the most and the best that you can right now. You can't beat up on yourself for not being able to do more, to provide more for others. I will have to do the same. May God bless you in your journey. If you have time and interest, you can read about how I came to this ministry of faith and fitness on my site: Read: Background.

Susan Kelly
Sporting Our Spirit, Coach & Founder

Sporitng Our Spirit Healthy Oatmeal for endurance training

2011-06-15T08:52:00.000-04:00

Breakfast at home in Nova Scotia.

"Butt- kicking, butt blasting Oatmeal"

Serves 2

1/2 c long cooking oats,
1/8 c red quinoa grain,
1 apple (Gala or Fiji) chopped finely,
1/8 to 1/4 c chopped dates,
3/4 c water,
1/2 almond milk (unsweetened)
1/2 c skim milk (optional, or can use another milk-like topper before serving)
2 TBSP raisins,
1 TBLS ground flax seed,
2 TBLS or about 10-12 whole walnuts,
2 TBSP real maple syrup (optional),
1 tsp ground cinnamon

In a medium saucepan, simmer the quinoa, chopped dates, and chopped apple in the water on medium, then, med/low heat for about 10 min.

Add in oatmeal, raisins, and almond milk. Cook & stir frequently until chunky but creamy, about 10 min.

Pour into bowls. Top with ground flax, cinnamon, almonds, syrup, & skim milk.

Lobster Fritata

2011-06-09T15:47:00.000-04:00

10 June 2011

We are in Nova Scotia now. Our commitment this trip is #1 to healthy eating. Knowing that May and June are the two lobster months here concerned me. Butter is out of our diet for sure. Who can eat lobster without butter. Well, certainly plenty of Nova Scotians do.

Anyway, for our whole lobster meal, I sauteed a concoction of olive oil, tarragon, and a little garlic. Using only a TSP or so of this mix, I added it to fresh lemon juice in custard dishes for dipping. Very tasty. I saved most of my lobster tail to make a fritata for brunch the next day. I rarely am able to follow a recipe. But I was surprised at how well it turned out. So, I can only share general notions of how I prepared the dish. Hope you'll give it a go. I did everything I could to keep it low calorie.

Lobster Fritata
Serves 2

Ingredients:
chopped lobster (could use shrimp, crab), 1 medium tail
4 eggs, 3 of them, just the whites, 1 whole, whipped up well
finely chopped fresh chives, about 1 tsp.
finely chopped tarragon, about 1 TBSP. Tarragon is vital to seafood
save a little of your herbs to add as garnish before serving
1 whole jalapeno pepper, seeded & finely chopped
1/2 oz. of goat cheese
a pinch of curry & cumin
season salt like Zatarains or Old Bay, to taste
pinch of cayenne
2-3 sliced mushroom (optional)
(optional) pretty sure, I might like a little chopped sun-dried tomatoes in this as well
1-2 capfulls of olive oil (about 1/2 TBSP) or use Canola Oil

Turn on the oven broiler to pre-heat for a final browning. Mix goat cheese into the egg mix & set aside. Use a good non-stick fry pan where the egg can spread out, coming up slightly on the sides. Turn stovetop burner to med. heat. Saute spices & jalapeno pepper in oil about 1 min. Add lobster, cook about 1 more min, then egg mix, let it gel, as in set till almost firm. Don't stir it. When it's just about set, put it under the broiler briefly to brown. I leave the oven door open and the fry pan handle extended outside of opening. Warm your dinner plates ( 1-1.5 min. in microwave). Portion the fritata with spatula into half or quarter sections so you can get it out of the fry pan. Serve on warmed plates. Add garnish and enjoy!

Do let me know if you tried it and if you liked it, or other options for preparing it. :-)

June notes at Kelly's Retreat, Nova Scotia

2011-06-04T10:00:00.000-04:00

Nova Scotia
June notes 2011
Finally made it outside to play. The dogs helped, not as much as the Sporting Our Spirit gang of Jacob, Jeanne, Jim, & Lenny, but still it's a start. I'd throw the ball down the hill, then head up the hill, get as much of a lead as I could on the retriever doing his/her job. Mace & Deacon don't fight much over the ball. MacE dislikes wet grass. So I alternate throws: grassy hill for Deacon and anywhere else for her. I sprint every time....uphill. Somehow, they always catch me. This we did for 35 min. They are crashed out now. I am watching the women's finals French Open in peace. It's 10:30 a.m. and 51 degrees. Of great encouragement was the fact that it felt good to run.

Renew in 42 (days)! Exercises for Body, Mind, and Soul.

2011-03-15T12:48:00.001-04:00

A Season of Reflection & Fortification: Six Weeks of Exercises for Resurrecting Body & Soul.

Renew in 42 (days)……….($40.00)

“Renew in 42” is a great opportunity to transform yourself. It is a mini course in high-quality living that is meant to kick-start life-changing and life-long healthy habits. This program reveals some of the highlights of living the Sporting Our Spirit life. Exercises for mind, body, and spirit are offered in a condensed form. Your workout notices and reflections will come to you 3 days per week, one every other day, with Sunday off. There is something of value for everyone. The weeks are built around themes of: balance, flexibility, strength, endurance, volume, and intensity. These are not physical exercise assignments presented in isolation. They will be integrated with brief reflections of positive psychology, theology, and/or philosophy. Nutritional suggestions and recommended media to bolster your intention to “renew in forty-two” (days) are all included. Review the credentials of Coach Susan and the SOS Resources page. “Renew in 42” is a wholesome & unique opportunity at a great value. If you want to add meaning to getting "physical" this is the right program for you.

I am ready to Renew in 42 (days)! Investment: $40.00.
If you would like to preview a sample day, please contact Coach Susan and provide your email to:
Susan@SportingOurSpirit.com
Feel free to call with questions: 239-822-6507

Sporting Our Spirit Club Membership Application

2011-02-23T12:07:00.000-05:00

     Promoting the spiritual significance of sport as integral to personal well-being, building community, and communing with God.

Club Membership Application- for all ages and abilities

Print Names: First ______________ Last___________________T-Shirt Size____________
        First ______________ Last___________________T-Shirt Size____________
        First ______________ Last___________________T-Shirt Size____________

Address:_____________________________________________________________________________
City:_____________________________________State: _________________ Zip:_______________
Home Phone: _________________Cell Phone: _______________________
Date of birth______________ Age now____________ USAT Member #________________
Email: __________________________________________

Emergency Contact: Name:_____________________________Phone #______________________

Club membership dues:_________$35.00 per individual.
Each additional family member, add $15. ________. Annual renewal $25.00________(family or indv.)

Dues include: SOS T-Shirt, email notifications of trainings and races, sponsorship discounts, invitations to SOS socials, and the inspiration to get fit together and to build the mission to help others do the same.

Date _________________________ Signature_____________________________________________________

Parent: Please sign for any family member under the age of 18.______________________________________

Parent Name: Printed_______________________________________

Catch the spirit of sweat!

"God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast! And when I run I feel His pleasure."
Eric Liddel, 1924 Olympian.

Total number of family members applying ______________. Total amount due:_________________.

Mail CHECK and APPLICATION(S) to:
Coach Susan Kelly
Sporting Our Spirit
2301 LaSalle Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33907

For further info,
Call Coach Susan: Cell #: 239-822-6507 or Email: Susan@SportingOurSpirit.com
Website: http://sportingourspirit.com/

Is Lent about controlling our appetites?

2011-02-03T11:04:00.000-05:00

Is Lent about controlling our appetites? Fr. Tugwell offers a different perspective.

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it (Ps. 81:10)"

"The ideal is for us not to control our appetites at all, but to allow them full rein in the wake of an uncontrolled appetite for God. We all too easily speak and think as if righteousness resulted chiefly from the curbing of our appetites, as if our appetites were only for sin. But strictly speaking we have no appetite for sin.

"What we experience as an appetite for sin is a sick appetite which has mistaken its object. In moments of despondency we may perhaps look around and think that we should be much happier if we gave up trying to be good, if we could enjoy all the vices of the world around us. But that is only a fantasy. The desire for goodness is really a much more robust desire than any alleged desire for evil...
"We must be content to grow slowly towards goodness, taking, if need be, a long time to convalesce. Most of us, maybe, will still be barely at the beginning of our recovery even when we die. But that is better than killing ourselves pretending to be healthy...

"St. Thomas says desire is the faculty that receives, so that the bigger our desire is, the more we can receive...Our part in this is to learn to want largely and earnestly enough to make us capable of the infinite righteousness of God's kingdom...The more we try to tame and reduce ourselves and our desires and hopes, the more we deceive and distort ourselves.

"We are made for God and nothing less will really satisfy us. We we must allow our innate appetite for infinity to dislodge us whenever we are inclined to settle down and call it a day," or throw down our spiritual toys and quit playing. (The Beatitudes: Soundings in Christian Traditions, Tugwell)

2011 January Birthday Reflections

2011-01-23T10:02:00.001-05:00

Birthday notes for January, 2011:

Life is messy! It will always be our charge to sort through the rubble to find the rubies.

January 23. For Jimmy (my uncle). He was and still is a flashy, dashing, & funny character. But after the losses of our Mom, his sister, then my husband & best friend David, and then Jake, he stepped up and into our lives in wonderful ways of comfort. Opening his heart, his home, his wallet, he reached out to lend us support. Happy Birthday, Jimmy. You have made a huge difference in my life and Josh’s. I know the others in heaven thank you too.

January 24, Jacqui. My sister. Ten years younger than I am. We have lots in common. She always looked up to me. We now look up to each other. It’s a wonderful, soulful, camaraderie. She has just added the finishing touches to her doctoral dissertation. Too many talents to list, this 50^th birthday surely is only the beginning chapters of her contributions and celebrations of life. Love & blessings my sister. Happy Birthday, Jacqui.

January 25, David A. Shadle. Here’s story I remember. We were students at Kent State University. Dave and I were talking on the phone. He was on break as “ref”at a basketball game in Ravena. Two armed robbers entered my bedroom from behind me while Dave & I spoke. Dave heard the commotion & the command the criminals gave me to “hang up the phone.” He was thirty minutes away. He called the police, left the game, drove to his house, grabbed his knife, and headed for my house. He beat the local police to my house. I was never so relieved to hear anyone’s voice from the bottom of the stairs, “Biddle” he called out. My stereo was stolen. Afraid to move, but unharmed, I was terrified I might be shot. I always knew he would give his life for one of us if it came to it. Happy Birthday, Dave (Pop). We miss you. I expect that you are still keeping watch.

Extra credit: January 25- often co-celebrated b-days with Dave is Richard Mahaffey. Thanks for helping Lisa and I in our agonizing task of clean up.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.

Athletes: Give BELIEF as in God A Try!

2010-10-21T14:14:00.000-04:00

Athletes: Give BELIEF as in God, a try!

Why not add faith into your training regimen? There are lots of gimmicks out there that promise performance enhancement. Give me a minute to challenge your sport and spirit connections.

Let me start with the weakest reason I ever heard for faith. It has been said, I would rather live my life believing there is a God, then die and find out that I was wrong, then to have lived my life believing there was no God, then die and find out I was wrong. While that thinking deserves some credit, surely you can see where it is lacking in passion, right? It is basically, a cover your “behind” way to think. The faith that I am talking about requires a more courageous stance. Let me ask you this: Do you race because if you didn’t you might not win, or is your motivation something more than that? Most of us pit ourselves against the competition at races because it keeps us honest. How hard would you train if you knew you would never be tested? Faith is training for life. Believe me, you will be tested…at the race and throughout your life. Both take a mammoth amount of conditioning. Part of your sports’ training is soldiering you for life. Plenty of others will look to you for the courage contained within your heart. Ever wonder why the words of some of the best coaches sound an awful lot like a sermon? Consider this quote by Vince Lombardi (great football coach) about mental toughness. "Mental toughness is spartanism with qualities of sacrifice, self-denial, dedication. It is fearlessness and it is love." Hey readers, what could be more God-like than fearless love? Is that in your training plan?

Second, I invite you to read the Athletes Prayer . It concludes with this wonderful line: “With Thee as coach and trainer, Lord, real victory must be mine."

In conclusion, I am going to challenge you to stretch yourself. Life is not an equal opportunity provider. That means this may be one of the few times you think about the relationship between your talent as an athlete and your relationship with God. So for now, start with two simple strategies for integrating faith into your training: (1) Be open and aware. Listen for God, (2) Say “thank-you” every time you feel grateful. Doing step one is bound to open up many more moments for doing step 2. Try it! Guaranteed.

Follow this “Sportuality” blog and share your thoughts. I welcome them.

Coach Susan Kelly http://www.sportingourspirit.com/index.html

Gratitude in Sports.

2010-08-08T15:35:00.000-04:00

Lately, I have been thinking about gratitude in sports. When I was in high school, my parents were unable to attend school events. Had it not been for a loyal sister who made it her intention to always attend all my sporting events, I might have gotten discouraged. Gratitude, though, for this sisterly support came to me late in life. Many years after high school it occurred to me that this same sister quit track, her athletic strength, when I went off to college. When I asked why, the truth stung…. “No one ever came to see me, to call out my name.” Gulp. I had a chance to coach her through a triathlon challenge a few years back. When she was afraid on the swim, I treaded water beside her until calmness returned. As we both neared the finish chute on the run leg, there was no doubt in my mind that I would step in behind her so that she would finish first. This was her moment, and I was overwhelmed with joy to be behind her in celebration of it. Now, more than ever, the sports playing field looks different to me. I notice all the supportive family and friends on the scene. For all of you, who have rung cowbells, held up signs, cut oranges, handed out water, darted across fields with toddler in a stroller, driven at 5:00 a.m. carried coolers and a change of clothes, pumped up bike tires, wrapped a cold towel around overheated shoulders, snapped pictures endlessly, and listened to the replays over and over again… thank-you, thank-you. You are special, very special and your love shows.

“Love never fails.” 1Cor 13:8.

Extraordinariness!

2010-07-26T13:27:00.000-04:00

Extraordinariness and the pursuit of excellence. Are you fortunate enough to have known one of those special moments…a moment where ability, focus, training, and Grace combine to produce magic? All doubt and fear are swept out of the way, replaced by confidence and infinite possibilities. Athletes, visionaries, missionaries, scientists, performers, political leaders, teachers, clergy, and parents (to name just a few of the many) can all be caught up in what some describe as “the zone”. Maslow termed this state “peak experience”. Csikszentmihalyi calls it “a state of flow”. Flow is a heightened state of awareness present in extraordinary achievement. It has been carefully studied but impossible to manipulate. Sometimes, we experience our ordinariness suffused with a power that is not our own. One minute it's there… as we hear the drummer's solo, an impassioned speech, an apology from a rebellious teen, we hear the message in a homily we longed to hear, we observe the impossible putt on the greens, or the triathlete no one can catch on the bike leg… it's the perfect moment. Then it's gone. In that moment, we are witness to the pursuit of excellence begetting the unimaginable outcome and we are forever affected by it. Then it passes. What do we make of these privileged moments? Are we special because they belong to us? God provides the talent and the way. The pursuit of excellence is itself a gift, a freedom of expression. When surprised by greatness, let us be humbled with awe and remember the Source.
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another.” Gal 5:25

Sporting Our Spirit workshop presentation notes

2010-07-01T09:48:00.001-04:00

Jacob Austin Shadle, B-7-12-78, D-5-15-04

Do you have any idea how much we miss you?

Sporting Our Spirit at The Compassionate Friends- Arlington, VA.

July, 2010 National Convention:

Highlight notes to remember

Presenters:

Susan Kelly

Contact info:

Fort Myers, FL

Email: Susan@SportingOurSpirit.com

Web: www.SportingOurSpirit.com

Josh Shadle

Contact info:

Boulder, CO

Email: josh@tri-massage.com

Web: www.tri-massage.com

Quotes and messages

Our ability to endure our experience of loss will tell us much. “I tell you hopeless grief is passionless.” Elizabeth B. Browning

“In the midst of winter, I found in me an invincible summer.” Albert Camus

“Trade with the gifts God has given you.” Hilda of Whitby

“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

“It is the nature of Grace to fill the empty spaces.” Goethe

“Every morning I wake up saying, I am still alive, a miracle. And so I keep on pushing.” Jacques Cousteau

“You desire to know the art of living, my friend? It is contained in one phrase. Make use of suffering.” Henri-Frederic Amiel

“In a grand piano, 243 tight strings exert a pull of 40,000 pounds on an iron frame. It is

proof that out of great tension may come harmony.” Theodore Steinway

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” M. Kathleen Casey

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Viktor E. Frankl

“God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure.” Eric Liddel (Olympian)

References (a comprehensive list for grief relief, fitness, spirituality, and nutrition):

http://www.sportingourspirit.com/resources.htm

Fitness:

Bergland, Christopher. The Athlete’s Way: Training Your Mind And Body to Experience the Joy of Exercise. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007.

Grief Relief:

Hickman, Martha Whitmore. Healing after Loss: Daily Meditations for Working through Grief, (New York: Harper-Collins, 2002).

Nutrition:

Bean, Anita. The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition: How to Eat for Maximum Performance. Guilford: Lyons Press, 2004

Carmichael, Chris. Fitness, and Life Plan for Discovering the Champion Within. New York: Rodale Press, 2007.

Harmon. Nancy. The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: A Delicious Alternative for Lifelong Health. Random House, 2008.

Fitness motivators. The basics: believe, breathe, hydrate, move.

Find a fitness buddy. Exercising alone is the number one reason why many individuals lose interest.

Join a gym and take classes.

Check your local parks and recreation or YMCA.

Join with other athletes exercising for a cause:

Team in Training- Leukemia/Lymphoma

American Heart Association

Breast Cancer

Arthritis Association

Out of Darkness- Suicide awareness

Medals for Mettle- athletes donating finish medals to cheer the hospital bound

Christian athletic groups- FCA, (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) AIA (Athletes in Action Sports Ministry), CAC (Catholic Athletes for Christ)

Join: Sporting Our Spirit club- be a part of putting faith in your fitness and sport in your spirit.

Notes to self:

Newton’s 1^st Law of Motion: Unless acted upon by an outside force, a body at rest tends to stay at rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion.

How many sports can you name where you could belong…as a volunteer, a spectator, or best of all…participant….competitor? Let’s start with ping pong,

How will you start?

Don’t hide your light under a basket.

2009-10-17T15:12:00.000-04:00

Many athletes know or come to know the Cross through the ecstasy of sport. Revelations of great comfort and promise have come to me often while engrossed in physical conditioning. In fact, sometimes, I can’t hear God until I have physically settled down the meaningless distractions that can plague me. There is nothing like a good run to clear the mental clutter and make room for a heart to heart moment with our Father. It is an awesome blessing to realize how God speaks to us and walks with us according to our individual personalities. Sport too often is trivialized when in fact it is talent gifted to us by God. Faithful organizations of athletes who go out and serve others are thoughtful, generous, and giving. Thank God for the talented yet humble athletes who accomplish great feats. While too many athletes are satisfied with their prizes and notoriety, others are called to serve. Those athletes who are called to serve, recognize the need to inspire and to provide for others who are less fortunate. They have a light that shines. Yet, this aspect of athleticism is only part of the ministry related to sport. Sport is worthy for its transformative power and influence on our individual determination and ability to persevere. We miss a great opportunity, when we minimize the ways in which our own spirituality is enhanced through sport. I often see God as my Coach. His wisdom is unmatched. He speaks to me on the sidelines (of life) and sends me back in the game a better player. So, this is for all you athletes, recreational, used to be, elite, pro, or want to be, or full of excuses, whatever:

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under at tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16- The New Jerusalem Bible)

Besides providing for the body (which is the temple of our soul), sports and fitness allow us opportunities to experience God within. A triathlete pursuing an ironman finish must seem crazy to some, but to others, it could be a means to experience the “extraordinary”. To know God is to tap into Extraordinary. Since God made us in His image and no one of us is exactly the same as another, why should we expect our relationship with our Creator to be anything less than individualistic and personal?

Here is a sweet victory story about a former student of mine, Adam. Keep in mind, this was middle school. Adolescents are terribly vulnerable, yet they can be heartless in peer groups and to one another. Adam was crippled with shyness because he stuttered. Since he was less self-conscious with me, he would speak in his halting manner about soccer. He was a good athlete. With all his brains and charm, I felt badly that he was avoiding potential friendships and never spoke up in class. One day he asked me if I thought he could speak about a paragraph of a report he had written in front of the class. He thought he was up to the challenge. We talked about tough moments in soccer, like penalty kicks and tie game kick-offs; moments when all eyes are on you, the pressure can be paralyzing. We talked about how we as athletes handle those moments. I reminded him that most people, spectators and classmates alike, do have compassion. They see themselves in similar situations and want the best outcome. No one really wants to suffer or to see another suffer. Dancers, writers, craftsmen, speakers, artists, musicians, scientists all practice to hone skills and to improve. It was obvious to Adam that in order to improve, he’d have to practice and thus be put to the test. I made some precursory announcement to the class about respecting the challenges that some students (and adults) face in speaking in front of groups. Some students gleaned that this was a moment which would call them to a higher standard. Others were clueless. Adolescents, right? Humans? So Adam spoke a perfect first sentence, and then, it happened. He couldn’t speak a word. Opening his mouth, only guttural noises came forth. His distress was obvious. I thought about how Peter in the Bible stepped out on to the Sea of Galilee to approach our Lord, then fear overtook him, and he had to cry out for help as he began to sink. What would Adam do here? How long should I let him suffer with this first experiment? One student in the class called out some mockery of Adam, like “what is the matter with him…what an idiot”. A number of students in the class glared at the student who spoke out. Their chastisement was far more powerful than anything I could say or do. In fact, my intervention would have seemed somewhat parental. Adam knew that the class wanted him to overcome. I could sense that he was determined. Another sport’s image came to mind, and something like it was happening for Adam. Sometimes at a tennis match, when one player is losing resolve, fans begin to clap to call the nearly defeated player back to rally. The class waited. Adam regained his composure and spoke the rest of the paragraph. It was one of those rare Olympic moments. We as witnesses, were transformed. Students spoke to Adam after class. They were patient with him. It wasn’t long before he was joining classmates at a lunch table. One day, toward the end of the school year, he introduced me to his girlfriend.

We are all different, aren’t we? My mission is to help those athletes and non-athletes alike celebrate the special ways that God ministers to all of us. I believe sport has many virtues and lessons. Give honor and glory to God by using the talents you were given.

We have opportunities for Olympic moments. We are called to be extraordinary in the depth of our faith. Be not afraid. The love of God is mightier than any test.

Let your light shine. We need you, child of God.

Inspiration for the hard times. James 1:1-4

2009-09-18T09:22:00.000-04:00

Has your heart ever been broken with great sadness? Have you ever faced a situation in life where you were sure it was more than you could endure?

Here is a good scripture for those hard times: "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (defined as: steadiness and loyalty in the face of trial and difficulty). And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:1-4.

It is yet another reminder, that we need to do the impossible. Not just to believe our way through the tough times, but to "count them all joy". Now that's really asking a lot: that we should count our trials as joys? Of course, by no means are we to seek out suffering. But when it comes, and few are spared its visit, pray for the strength to welcome it. For with faith, we can endure. Think about it: can anyone really know perseverance without the test? If you have never faced down the thing "feared" or the unutterable, terrible despair, how can you know the gift of fortitude? If you have never neared or hit the wall within, that internal gauge which reads "empty" with nothing in reserve, how will you know your potential to prevail? This is when the mystery of the Spirit becomes real.

Sustaining hope and joy in the face of adversity is the topic of exploration in Sporting Our Spirit. I hope to use the power of sports' metaphors and the virtues embodied in sports (athletes, coaches, games, spectators, and all) to reinforce great lessons of the Gospel: endurance, running the good race, lifting up others (our earthly teammates), and most importantly, trusting God, our heavenly Father, the ultimate Coach and Referee. Know that it is possible with His help to press on. God showed us the unsurpassable example of loving determination and commitment to His will through the life of Christ, His son, our Savior, the ultimate Olympian. Christ did give his all. He stayed the course....perfectly. In Mark 9:23, Christ asks the question of us... "If you can? All things are possible to those that believe." So "be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go"(Joshua 1:9).

The citation from the bible book of Joshua is fortifying and personally relevant to me. Joshua is also my younger son's name. We have in common our determination in life, quite likely a benefit derived from our athletic aptitude. We have also been scarred and transformed by tragedy. In 1999, we were a family of four. Over the course of 5 years, we would lose David and Jake, father and son to depression, substance abuse, and in the end, to suicide, both of them. Our hearts ache with grief. Most days we accept and live with the reality of our losses. Some days, the "why's" and "what if's" are brutal and exhausting. Our story is awful and one (usually by our own doing) that can often alienate us from others. Yet, together, Josh and I, though separated by lots of miles, have survived, sometimes even thrived. Neither of us deserves or desires any special credit for persevering. I believe it is by the Grace of God that in light of our tragedies, most days, we are optimists. The desire to help others by sharing the fruits of God's grace is my objective.

Please visit the Sporting Our Spirit website and feel free to share your feedback.

God Bless.

The Compassionate Friends (TCI) National Convention

2009-08-14T07:37:00.000-04:00

My son, Josh and I attended the Portland, OR National Convention of TCI. TCI is the largest support network for families who have lost a child to any cause. It seemed that there were at least 1000 in attendance at this conference. While grief is omnipresent at such a large convention, so are stories of inspiration, hope, and courage. Images of children of all ages who have died are everywhere. We even wear the pictures of them on our clothes as buttons and pictured on our name tags. Josh and I presented twice on the topic of sport and spirit. It was our goal to make the connection between the attributes that athletes possess, which in turn can bolster the spirits of those who mourn. Perseverance, and suffering to a degree, exist in both instances. First we spoke with a group of adults, many of whom were athletes. In the second session we spoke with mostly young adult siblings, a much smaller group. They too were primarily athletes. I believe we gave the attendees something to think about and I hope to hear from some of the them. In the end, I would say it is very difficult to pack up these keepsakes (memories, pictures, and stories) and move back into the real world where most people, even family and friends, may not feel comfortable in conversation with you and your grief.