The Race by D.H. Groberg Whenever I start to hang my head in front of failures face, my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race. A childrens race, young boys, young men; how I remember well, excitement sure, but also fear, it wasnt hard to tell. They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place. Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son, and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one. The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire, to win, to be the hero there, was each young boys desire. One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd, was running in the lead and thought My dad will be so proud. But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip, the little boy who thought hed win, lost his step and slipped. Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace, and midst the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face. As he fell, his hope fell too; he couldnt win it now. Humiliated, he just wished to disappear somehow. But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face, which to the boy so clearly said, Get up and win that race! He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit thats all, and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall. So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win, his mind went faster than is legs. He slipped and fell again. He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace. Im hopeless as a runner now, I shouldnt try to race. But through the laughing crowd he searched and found his fathers face with a steady look that said again, Get up and win that race! So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last. If Im to gain those yards, he thought, Ive got to run real fast! Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight, then ten... but trying hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again. Defeat! He lay there silently. A tear dropped from his eye. Theres no sense running anymore! Three strikes Im out! Why try? Ive lost, so whats the use? he thought. Ill live with my disgrace. But then he thought about his dad, who soon hed have to face. Get up, an echo sounded low, you havent lost at all, for all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall. Get up! the echo urged him on, Get up and take your place! You were not meant for failure here! Get up and win that race! So, up he rose to run once more, refusing to forfeit, and he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldnt quit. So far behind the others now, the most hed ever been, still he gave it all he had and ran like he could win. Three times hed fallen stumbling, three times he rose again. Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end. They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place, head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace. But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place, the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race. And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud, you would have thought hed won the race, to listen to the crowd. And to his dad he sadly said, I didnt do so well. To me, you won, his father said. You rose each time you fell. And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face, the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race. For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all. And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face, another voice within me says, Get up and win that race! What a beautiful story and a lesson that when life knocks you down, get back up! Dust yourself off and keep going. Resilience, determination, and the will to win no matter what life brings will carry you not just to the finish line but through it. I have been knocked down more times than I can count anymore and I keep on getting back up. Even on my worst days, I bring my A game and deliver 100% to our athletes. Be willing to do whats hard. Do things that take you well outside your comfort zone. Think about doing a Tough Mudder. Consider rowing a half or a full marathon. If you havent done Murph, do it! Sign up for the Owl Creek Chase next year even if you are only a beginner nordic skier. And if you want the ultimate test, consider registering for SealFit Kokoro. Have an epic day! Coach Erik
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 15:18:08 +0000
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