I got all dressed up, got to see friends and coaches again, and of course there were laughs and awards. The moment I was anticipating was to see whether or not I was team captain or not for next year. It is the last "award" to be announced. Before then is varsity letters, all state honorable mention, MVP, hardest worker, team spirit, rookie of the year, the Abby Duncan Show and all those other great awards. Then comes the fun award, hairy leg contest....I came in close second, by 3 votes! They announced the captains, Maddie Olson and Laura Ledray...two WONDERFUL ladies who I'm so excited for. Yes, I was disappointed because I wasn't going to be captain, but as I was thinking about it...that wasn't it. I was upset for another reason.
As I was listening to the various awards being called off and the characteristics and recipients being described, I thought to myself, "well that can't be me" or "well that's kinda me." You can't just be "kinda" the hardest worker. It is either all or nothing. I had been giving nothing. The 2 things I received were certificates of participation: one for having nasty hairy legs and the other for showing up to practice to do laps. The entire way home I was beating myself up wondering why I even wasted all the time, money and pain if I wasn't making anything of it.
That got me to thinking about life. Godsmack part 2. I have been living a mediocre life and being a lukewarm Christian. Yes I have done good, yes I show up to church every Sunday, yes I volunteer...but is my heart with it? Am I really trying? The answer: NO! Then I thought the same thing I did about swimming: why even waste all the time, money and pain if I wasn't making anything of it.
The good thing is though I realized I could quit swimming and quit life, but both are stupid options. That would solve nothing. Instead, I have to make an effort to change. I have to put my all into both life and swimming. If I can't be the next Abby Duncan, well I can at least sweat as hard as her, I can cheer as loud as possible and put my all into it. For life I can add care and meaning, working on relationships and making things worth while. Making these changes because I want to, not because I have to. Yes it is easier said than done, but practice makes perfect.
This blog is called Swimming the Race of Life...read the verse at the top. Now I can just swim to finish that race or I can swim to win the prize. God has once again pointed me toward what I need to do in life, via facesmack...now I just have to make the change. What about you? Are you giving it your all? Whether it be life, relationships, sports, or something else...think about why you are truly doing it, and if you aren't giving it your all...well now is the time to change!
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