How Track and Field taught me to be a Disciple of Christ

I love Spring! I love when the weather starts to warm up, when the snow starts to melt (finally!) and flowers start to bloom. I also love the sport of track and field. I ran for our high school track team each year of high school, and absolutely loved it! Some of those members on the team become some of my closest friends. I will always look back on those memories in the spring as some of my fondest. On top of all of that, I also learned quickly how to become a better disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Wait, what?! Let me explain.

For my first three years running track, I would have just a couple of races each meet. I ran the 100m and 200m dash, and that was about it. Most runners who decide to run the sprints (or short races) would also include the 400m dash, one complete lap around the track sprinting the whole way. It's considered by many one of the hardest races to compete in, and as a young freshman not knowing anything about track, I avoided it like the plague. I kept that mindset until my senior year. As my senior year started, our school hired a new track and field coach. He knew what he was doing, and was pretty intense compared to previous coaches. We all anxiously awaited to hear which specific group he would be working with, and when he announced he was taking over the sprinters, I think we all groaned.

On our first day of practice with the new coach, he made it very clear that all of the sprinters would be running the 400m dash in the first race of the year. Instantly after practice, the strategies began circulating amongst the sprinters. I specifically remember some mentioning that they were going to purposely run slower during that race so that they would not have to run it again for the rest of the season. The day of the first meet came, and I decided to give the race my all. I finished the race, not really sure whether or not my time would be considered decent enough. Not long after the race had finished, my coach came over and informed me that I would definitely be running the 400m dash for the rest of the season. I told him that I had no idea how to run that race, or the specific techniques and skill sets required to compete at the highest level. Coach simply said, "Well what do you think I am here for?"

For the next week or so, I trained with my coach near my side. He would stand at a certain point near the track and tell me that when I could see him clearly and hear his voice, that would mean that it was time for me to kick it into high gear, and go from sprinting to sprinting even faster (is that even possible?!) As races passed, and my times improved, I noticed a little trend. Coach was moving closer and closer to the starting line, meaning I would be sprinting longer distances. I called him out on it one time, saying that I could totally see him moving closer to where I was. He simply said, "How do you expect to improve if you don't push and challenge yourself?" Eventually, I was able to compete in region track meet, and our 4x400m relay team qualified for state. So how in the world did all of that teach me how to be a better disciple of the Lord?

Jesus Christ is the perfect coach. He sees our potential, and challenges us to rise up to become what we truly can become. He invites us to follow His example, to do things that we haven't done before, and to be a little vulnerable. He will never force us to make the decision to full-heartedly follow Him, just as our track coach couldn't force his sprinters to run the 400m dash with all the energy they could muster that first race. When we give our all to the Savior, the perfect coach, He then can work with us. He can train us. He can help us see how we can improve and become better. Much like my coach, He knows the specific techniques and skill sets required to be successful while here on Earth. As we improve and become more like Him, He will once again ask us to stretch, push, and even challenge ourselves. If we are constantly complaining about how hard that might be, or how much easier it would be to just keep things the way that they are, we will never recognize the need to improve and grow.

In the Old Testament in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 9 verse 11 we read, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong....but time and chance happeneth to them all." Each of us are involved in the race of life. There is no first place prize or second place ribbon. The race is an individual race to become more like the Savior and one of His disciples. The reward? A crown of glory when the race is finally over. There's no looking over your shoulder to see who you are racing against, there is no time to beat or competition to overcome. The Savior simply asks for our best effort, as we run the race of life and strive to reach the end.

The Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Hebrews taught, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

The race of life is to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. It's not an easy race. There are spectators on the sides, cheering against us and waiting for us to quit the race. There are challenges and obstacles that sometimes may make the race seem impossible. There is also always a coach, even the Savior Himself, who will be at our side, cheering us on, leading us on, motivating and challenging like any good coach would, until we reach the final finish line.

President Russell M. Nelson has taught, "The Lord needs you to look like, sound like, act like, and dress like a true disciple of Jesus Christ." No matter how challenging it might be, or how daunting the task may sound, it is my belief that we can truly become disciples of Jesus Christ as we continue to run the race of life, with Him as our guide and focus.