Made New

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

The idea of being “made new” has given me a lot of freedom over the past few weeks. My meditation on this concept originated from an email challenging me to let go of the past and all the self-imposed expectations that I have continued to carry around in a burdensome manner. Instead, my coach invited me to start new and build upon each day.

So what exactly does this mean? I don’t have to leave a workout bummed because once upon a time I ran that last set faster. I don’t have to stand at the back of the long jump runway saying “you need to figure this out now or you’ll never be a good heptathlete”. I don’t have to limit myself by saying “that’s the farthest I’ve ever been able to throw before”. I don’t have to be a certain body type to perform a certain way. I don’t have to do this many sets and reps because that’s what worked before. THE OLD HAS PASSED. THE NEW HAS COME. The things that worked before may not be the best things for me now. I can put down that load of false associations and rigid discipline that I’ve developed over years of striving for unattainable perfection.. I can step onto the track with a new intent: to give all my strength to that day and then trust the process to take me wherever I am meant to go.

The next morning I flipped to BibleGateway for some biblical encouragement on the matter. I was directed to 2 Corinthians 5:17. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Christ humbly took the form of a human being, lived a sinless life (one that we certainly cannot match), but paid the price for our sins anyways by sacrificing Himself on the cross. Wow! Because of Christ, we get to leave behind worldly expectations and sinful desires. We are not bound by them! Not only that, but we get to live a Christ-centered life full of spiritual blessings. Ask yourself, is your daily joy being overshadowed by worldly pressures and expectations? Of course the Bible tells us to work hard, but if this hard work is causing overwhelming anxiety, then who are you really working hard to please? Is it God-centered work?

Take a minute and reflect: what sins are you holding on to? For me it is pride and false idols. Thanks to Christ, we can (with His help) move past these worldly desires and center ourselves on glorifying Him. From my few weeks of “starting fresh” and focusing on His greatness as opposed to mine, I’ve experienced more joy and passion for the sport. I’d love to hear the experiences you have in your workplace.

Finally friends, quick update on HS coaching: I love this! More than I thought I would. I love having the one-on-one conversations. I love watching these kids conquer their fears (I had the joy of witnessing one gal go over hurdles for the first time since breaking her foot while hurdling last year. How awesome to witness her courage!) I love watching them experience the rewards of hard work! I didn’t love yelling “WATCH THE TRACK” over and over during time trials! 🙂

goofing off at World Athletic Center photoshoot

4 days left in my RallyMe campaign! Find out more about Shine On here: https://athletebiz.rallyme.com/rallies/1242

Keeping you in the loop

Hi all!

I’ve had a couple pretty cool weeks on the track and in the church. Upon reflection, my most prominent emotion is gratefulness. This gratitude is towards an abundance of people reaching out to help me in different ways. It’s also towards new opportunities, a body that is capable of exploring and enjoying nature, an excitement about learning, and a forgiving God.

First up, TRACK: For a nice chunk of this fall and winter, my coaches, therapists, acupuncturist, and I have been working hard to manage what we believe to be nerve entrapment at scar tissue on the ischial tuberosity (or butt bone) which developed as a result of (some degree of) tendon tearing in a hurdle session last May. With the help of the incredibly passionate support group above, I’ve had two solid weeks of pain-free practices and MAN DOES THAT FEEL GOOD! After only being able to ramp up the intensity to about 80% for a while, a full, powerful stride gives an incredible sense of freedom. I feel like Pocahontas in my running workouts! It has been really encouraging to see some of the technical cues we’ve been working on happen so naturally when the hamstring and glute are firing correctly. In the words of a teammate, I feel like a kid on the playground out there!

Next up, SERVICE: My first official season as a High School Track and Field Coach begins on Monday! I’ve been able to meet with the kids for a couple practices the past few weeks and each time has left me feeling energized and purposeful. I have an opportunity to help these kids discover talent they may have never known they possess. I get to be part of many life lessons they will learn through sport, such as building relationships and striving for a goal. Most importantly, I get to be a role model and leader for this group, so please pray that I reflect Jesus to them in all my words and actions. Pray that my first priority is to display love!

Question for all you high school coaches out there… what have you done to address shin splints from previous sport seasons? We will certainly be emphasizing proper foot strike mechanics and soft/quiet landings and calf development but I’d like to take proper measures to knock out lingering pains.

I’m sure I will have a plethora of stories for you all throughout the season. I will keep you posted!

Last but not least, SPIRITUALITY: Have you ever taken a class on a subject that you are super passionate about? You read far beyond the assigned chapters and find yourself stuck on this material instead of studying for the exam you really need to prepare for. I have been experiencing a similar ongoing state of excitement for scripture. Kyle and I have been attending a leadership course held by our Phoenix church, Harvest Bible. In our last gathering, we spoke about counseling the heart using a metaphor of a tree. Imagine the sun providing the heat/pressure/situation, the leaves and fruit of the tree symbolizing our behaviors, and the roots of the tree representing our heart’s desires and beliefs. If we are fixated on changing the behavior, the results will only be temporary. True changes must come from attacking the heart in a loving, genuine, patient way.

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.” Luke 6:43

So if you or your flock are off-course with actions, take a deep look into the heart. Are you filling your heart and mind with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable? Human beings are not made to be perfect- we will sin, but correction comes from changes within. Humans see the fruit, but God sees our heart. Learning about the incredible gifts of salvation, grace, mercy, peace, and joy makes my heart want to glorify Him. Although I am a sinful human, I pray that my yearning to further understand God’s greatness can continue to transform the desires of my heart.

Friends and family, where do you stand on this? Please share your story.

Also, I’m in the final 2 weeks of my RallyMe campaign. Please visit https://athletebiz.rallyme.com/rallies/1242 if you would like to contribute to Shine On.