STOP LIVING FOR YOUR SPORT
Being a college or pro-athlete is so rewarding and can teach you so much about yourself as well as a lot of life lessons. I learned how to set boundaries, I learned to work hard, I learned that you can’t be perfect all the time, and so much more. In learning all these things it was not always easy, as I am sure many of you have experienced. There comes anxiety, fear, injury, breakdowns, and stress with school. I had many injuries for those that know me. I had experienced a torn labrum in my shoulder and multiple fractured ribs. Halfway through my sophomore year I was medically disqualified or medically retired as I like to say. It was an identity crisis and a huge life change to say the least. I was confused as to what life was going to look like, if I was going to lose touch with my teammates. I questioned what I had to look forward to now?
After I was medically retired I didn’t quite know what to do and no one had guided me through this transition. I cried a lot. All I wanted to do was row in college. I love the sport; however, the reality of my body not doing what I wanted it do made my heart break. This was by far one of the hardest experiences I had gone through. At the time I had been involved with FCA and even questioned whether it was still okay for me to still go. Thankfully, I had two very good friends on the volleyball team that were very encouraging and kept inviting me to FCA. They also brought me to a church in Dallas called Watermark. Every Tuesday night they have a young adult event called The Porch. I cannot even tell you how many times I cried praying to God every Tuesday night. I questioned God’s purpose for me and why he would have taken something away from me that I used to enjoy? I also thanked God because I was in so much physical pain and mentally struggled on how I was going to get back to my pre-injured performance. When the reality of not being an athlete hit me there was a sense of relief which allowed my mind and body to relax. To this day I wish none of it happened, but wow did God have a plan!
The next two and half years of college were very hard. As much as I got closer to God my classes started to get harder and I had to work in the athletic department to keep my scholarship. I lost myself and my purpose.
It wasn't until after graduation that I found myself again. God had given me the strength to get back on track in pursuing him. For any athletes that are going through an injury or are in a bad mental space within their athletic experience in college or professionally I wish someone had said to me: “Stop living for your sport. You have found a passion and it has given you moments of good and bad. When it’s all over do you know your purpose? If you are unsure start being in God’s word. His word will speak to you in ways that will identify your purpose through Him. He died on the cross for you and for all your faults. In the end he is who you want to live for. He is infinite and everlasting. In Revelation 22:13 it says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
This is how I found my purpose again. I started living my life for Him and kept reminding myself: Romans 8:31 “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” I would say this verse to myself each time before a race or placement test.
No one is perfect and I am still not perfect. God made us all imperfect, but I am writing this to you to let you know that your sport is so great and you are doing such a great job, but stop revolving your whole life around it. It makes it much harder to move on because at one point or another you will have to move on. If you start living your life for Jesus you will never have to move on.
