Fight the good fight...Finish the race!
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7
In our lives there will always be some kind of fight. It's true. A good friend of mine made the statement once - 'as you go through life you will always be either going into a fight, be in a fight or coming out of a fight.' This statement has always stuck with me. Be it big or small, our lives are full of 'fight' and sometimes, they are not easy. But we always manage to finish the race.
There will be times you'll want to quit and just give in. But as the passage says, 'keep the faith.'
I remember the first time my faith was tested during a 'fighting time' in my life. I hit the wall during my college football experience.
I had been fighting for a scholarship and starting position but the fight had gone out of me and I wanted to quit.
Flashback to after my last high school football game. A new crazy dream emerged to play college football at the Division 2 level where I could earn a scholarship and also to be a starter. I picked Mankato State, a Division 2 school here in Minnesota which played in what was arguably the toughest Division 2 conference in the country. This made it even more of a challenge since I was undersized and no one was knocking down my door to recruit me.
I really wanted to play football at this level, so I decided to walk on. It meant I would be the low man on the totem pole. I would practice with the team and be cannon fodder for the older players to practice hitting. It wasn't going to be easy, but I knew this is what I wanted to do and it excited me to go for something big. I had a new dream to be a starter and earn a scholarship.
I dove headfirst into this dream. I was working out like crazy and dialing into the practice regimen and team workouts. I even did extra, seriously extra as in running in the rain with these goofy strength shoes listening to my boom box. This was an extra workout above and beyond what I was already doing with the team. I ran in the rain while my roommates partied. I was happy to be doing what I was doing because I really believed I would be a starter and earn the scholarship.
I really believed in myself.
But one day I had had enough. I had endured countless brutal practices where I took massive amounts of physical punishment and humiliation. You see, sometimes the coaches would have us 'walk-ons" lay on the ground and be dummies to run over. I watched as my roommates left to go fishing and hang out at the beach as I trudged up the hill to workouts. I really started to feel the pressure of being a 'walk-on'. And it began to get frustrating. It felt like no matter what I did I would never get a chance.
I hit the wall.
I called my coach. Ready to throw in the towel. But then, I had an epiphany moment. I realized I had dedicated 3 years to this program and I still had a chance to showcase my skills - spring football. I made a deal with myself to keep going through spring football and if nothing changed then I would be done.
When the smoke cleared after spring ball I was called up to the coaches office and they offered me a scholarship. Goal #1 was complete. I had done it. I had kept the faith and finished the race. I went on that fall to become a starter on the MSU team and had a record breaking season. We actually made it to the national playoffs!
Had I had quit I would have missed it ALL!
That experience taught me to keep fighting the good fight and finish the race even when things seem hopeless.
How about you?
Has the fight gone out of you?
Do you need a breakthrough like I did?
Hitting a fitness goal is a great way to restore the fight in you and achieve your dreams.
Sometimes you need someone to help light the spark.
I want to help light it in you again and find the faith.
Reply to the message to set up a complimentary success session with us.
We have programs to get you back into the fight and restore hope.
Your breakthrough is coming so let's seize it together!
Dedicated to helping you break through!
Erik Peacock