August 21
I always wanted to argue with my coach when he made the lineman run laps around the track during off season. I mean, the farthest I ever ran was two feet to hit the lineman in front of me. I knew better than to argue, but that didn’t keep me from muttering. What really made the runs tough, is coach strapped a rope on our shoulders and made us drag a tire behind us while we ran. “Just one lap,” he’d say, “you can do it Wilson,” then he’d blow that blasted whistle of his and we’d start.
I was no speed demon. Believe me, if the team was counting on me to chase someone down and tackle him, they’re were in trouble. I never could run fast, just long and hard in the same spot. I don’t think coach was trying to make me into a track star, I’m sure the exercise was designed to build our strength and endurance, and I suppose it did. By mid season, when other players got injured, I’d have to play offense, defense and special teams. Some games I never stepped off the field.
As I was running around the track, I longed for the finish line-that’s what kept me going. The run was usually the last event of the workout so I knew that when I was done I could sit in the locker room, listen to music and drink a sports drink.
The finish line is important, as are strength exercises, but neither of them have any significance to someone who is unwilling to go to the starting line. Too many people prefer to line up on the fence line and watch others run without getting on the track themselves. I’m not talking about football practice anymore, I’m talking about life. Finishing takes endurance. Starting takes guts. Are you in the game?
Jim L. Wilson, Fresh Start Devotionals (Fresno, CA: Willow City Press, 2009).
Starting Line
I always wanted to argue with my coach when he made the lineman run laps around the track during off season. I mean, the farthest I ever ran was two feet to hit the lineman in front of me. I knew better than to argue, but that didn’t keep me from muttering. What really made the runs tough, is coach strapped a rope on our shoulders and made us drag a tire behind us while we ran. “Just one lap,” he’d say, “you can do it Wilson,” then he’d blow that blasted whistle of his and we’d start.
I was no speed demon. Believe me, if the team was counting on me to chase someone down and tackle him, they’re were in trouble. I never could run fast, just long and hard in the same spot. I don’t think coach was trying to make me into a track star, I’m sure the exercise was designed to build our strength and endurance, and I suppose it did. By mid season, when other players got injured, I’d have to play offense, defense and special teams. Some games I never stepped off the field.
As I was running around the track, I longed for the finish line-that’s what kept me going. The run was usually the last event of the workout so I knew that when I was done I could sit in the locker room, listen to music and drink a sports drink.
The finish line is important, as are strength exercises, but neither of them have any significance to someone who is unwilling to go to the starting line. Too many people prefer to line up on the fence line and watch others run without getting on the track themselves. I’m not talking about football practice anymore, I’m talking about life. Finishing takes endurance. Starting takes guts. Are you in the game?
Jim L. Wilson, Fresh Start Devotionals (Fresno, CA: Willow City Press, 2009).
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