" Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air, but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1Corinthians 9:24-27
Run so as to win!
Bob has been in swim lessons for about a year. It's really a love hate relationship with Bob and the water. He LOVES to swim with daddy. He LIKES to take baths. He HATES the THOUGHT of swim lessons. Usually, however once in the water he becomes a little fish.
Despite his affection for the water it's been taking him some time to get the basics down. He doesn't like putting his face in the water, he's hesitant to jump in, and get's really nervous about floating on his back. With some coaching and coaxing he can do them all and usually really likes doing them.
Most of our lessons happened in Illinois at the fitness club we were members at. He was usually 1 of 3 or 4 kids in a group and each would take turns trying different techniques the instructor would share with them. Like I said, Bob could do them, he just didn't do them with much excitement.
Well, when we moved to Georgia we took some time off from lessons but had a few chances to go to Florida and visit with family. The first was to my parents in Port Charlotte. He loved their pool! And most importantly he began swimming back and forth between me and my dad.
The second visit was to my in-laws in Largo. Another pool and another step forward. He started jumping from the side of the pool and swimming under water to me from the stairs . We were all really excited!
Then we brought Bob to the gym to take his swim assessment and suddenly he didn't know how to do any of it. He wouldn't go under water, he wouldn't float, and well the bubbles... let's just say there were more coming from under the water than from his mouth.
So Bob was placed in the basic class for his age group. Which is fine, he's just been there for a while now. So today was his first lesson. Again, he did NOT want to go! I coaxed and prodded and reluctantly got him dressed and to the side of the pool about 20 minutes early.
We hung out and relaxed until his teacher arrived. She came over early, introduced herself and then immediately started talking with Bob. They talked about his Lightening McQueen swim shirt, and his Superman trunks. She got him smiling and by the time she returned to her office he was ready and excited to jump in!
His swim classes in Illinois were good- but here I witnessed the difference between just doing your job and striving for excellence. His instructor was excited to get into the water with Bob and immediately began to challenge Bob to try new things. Where before he would have been left until he said he was ready, today's instructor encouraged and cheered Bob on in a way that made him feel as if he had decided to let go of the floatie and start practicing his strokes.
"Be imitators of me as I, as I am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
Another thing Amanda and I are striving to do in our pursuit of excellence in our life is to memorize Bible verses. We've gone over three so far and I'll admit I catch Bob correcting Amanda & I more often than we are correcting him! It's actually pretty cool to see.
So when things like the above are happening it's pretty easy to pat myself on the back and say "Hey, I'm doing pretty good!" But more often than not I'm putting Bob in time out for smacking his sister in the chest, holding a screaming Mary because she just wanted to play with that full glass of water in the living room, or my personal favorite taking the walk of shame back to the narthex of the church because Bob decided to let go of the front pew while balancing his legs on the back pew.
But we strive and we push on. Occasionally a miracle happens...
But it's never an easy task getting there. Kids certainly make striving for holiness a whole lot more interesting. While on the outside I sometimes might look like I have it all together, on the inside I am berating myself and the God who made this whole process so hard! I'm pretty good at motivating myself to action. I know if I don't get myself all fired up about this that I'll fall flat on my face pretty quickly. But even I need motivation and encouragement sometimes....sorry, all the time!
I get a lot of it from reading the Saints. Or talking to people I know to be holier than me. Or just living life with my wife and friends that we surround ourselves with. But sometimes I'm alone with my own best and worst intentions. A great example of this comes from Mass today.
Bob was running his races up and down the pew and Mary wouldn't stop screaming unless I was holding her. If I finally got Bob to stop and Mary quiet then the two of them would break out into song together! I love my children...
... And that's exactly what I was thinking throughout Mass. :)
But really, that's something I constantly have to remind myself. I love them. Being here is not only good for you, but it's good for them. I do actually get to pay attention despite my distractions most days. And I think that's the key for me... realizing that the distractions are more mine than anyone else's.
I spend most of the Mass threating Bob with spanks and toys being taken away because I'm worried that he's distracting someone else when really I'm only distracting myself. On the worse days, when not only do I think I've prevented the entire church from entering into Mass, but I've also declared myself the worse father ever for the resentment I feel toward my children, than I usually get a someone who comes up to me and compliments me on how good my children are... what! really? Were we at the same Mass!
It happened today. Not once... but twice! I was feeling all of the above when a woman approached me and told me how great the kids did today. At how they just seemed to love Mass! Moments later I had another woman approach me and tell me how patient I am with the children and how great it is that I take them to daily Mass. That they were lucky to have a dad like me!
It's moments like these that I'm convicted. It's moments like these that I need to realize I need to get over myself. It's moments like these that I need to realize I need to get out of God's way.
Striving for excellence isn't easy. But neither was the cross. I'm not perfect. Neither was St. Paul. But he strove for perfection and then challenged me (us) to follow him in that pursuit. What am I going to say to that... no? No way.
Thanks again for reading and God bless,
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