Many times I’ve heard former athletes get up on their soapbox and tell of all the great lessons their participation in sports had taught them. I’ve been known to do likewise. But I’ve grown a bit reflective in my older years, and began to doubt most of those tales. Sure, some may be true. After all, you’d have to be dead not to learn a lesson or two. But, let’s reason this out together. Did sport teach you courage, or did you learn that it wasn’t real courage but rather the bravado of youth? Did sport teach you the value of cooperation, or was it the hatred for losing that you learned? Did sport teach you the principles of living a Godly life, or did it teach you that beating the stuffing out of another man was incompatible with doing so? Win, win, win is better than lose, lose, lose! Right? Tell me, how does a man win the things that really matter while playing sports? Things like love for God and fellow man. Like humility. Like meekness. Like turning the other cheek. Tell me, can you win in sports with these Godly traits? Athletes lie too. They cheat and lie about it. Want me to start counting all the athletes who got caught? The ones who didn’t get caught are legion. They claim that it’s justifiable to cheat because all the other athletes are doing it, and they don’t want to compete at a disadvantage. Is there a valuable lesson somewhere in this massive wreckage that I’ve overlooked? Now I want to know whether there is anyone among you who strive for optimal fitness or sports dominance are doing so in order to express their inward spirit man through the outward natural man. Is there? Be truthful with yourself. Don’t try to lie to yourself because your “self” will know! Truth be told, most folks simply pay their spirit selves -- their deep consciousness -- little mind when engaging in life’s journey. All of the addictions to dominance, power, greed, lust and self-pride that are controlling your ego demand attention, and rarely allow you to stand back and view your “self “ objectively. If you did, you’d cringe a bit and vow to spend more time in mindful reflection so that you could identify those old habits for what they are, harmful addictions. This simple exercise will put you on the path to a higher consciousness. Fitness and sports will become something far more than an ego boost or an outlet for you to assert dominance over others. Instead, you will begin to think of your body, mind and spirit as one. Or, as Ken O’Neill like to say, 1+1+1 > 3. No, folks, sports do not afford many Godly lessons for the youngsters, and the grown men and women who compete find even fewer lessons of value. Now, I could turn this short post into a book quite easily by recounting all of the really crummy things I have done and experienced as an athlete. All I can do is admit to them, and move on in my walk. But I have to mention one of the few lessons I did learn from being an athlete. Nothing comes easy. Not success, not records, not acclaim. But none of these things are going to get me into heaven either. Enjoy sports. Theyre fun. But keep perspective.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 20:17:05 +0000
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