::sports are what I do::

Athletics, competition and sports are part of my every day life. As an athletic trainer, it is my job to be involved with athletics, athletes and everything that comes with this. And I love it. You may think that all I do is tape ankles. Yes, that is part of my job, and as I keep finding out, my list of job duties is always expanding.

My job description expands on game days. I turn into a sort of manager, running errands, holding things and delivering food. I even become water girl....balancing five cups of water with a towel over my shoulder. I am far too competitive though to be an athletic trainer. I can't simply sit there during games. I even turn into a sort of "coach" as I have been told by the actual coaches. I yell a lot! I am kind of a mom too. I have a sign up in my training room that says, "we are not your mothers, so please clean up after yourself". But yes....I do have motherly tendencies.

I am also finding that I understand sports analogies now. And who ever said that sports have nothing to do with life, they are wrong. And whoever said that being a Christian and being a competitive athlete is a contradiction, also wrong.

Somethings I have learned......

* You win some and you lose some. That is the reality of life and sports. But when you lose, figure out what went wrong, then do everything in your power to not let it happen again.

* There are some people who have natural athletic ability. But natural ability only gets you so far. After that, you put in time, energy and effort into making your self better. If you only want to be mediocre, then you put in the time in practice and that's it. But if you want to be great, you go above beyond. Spending time in the gym daily, putting up shots, working in the off season etc. It those extra hours of practice that will eventually get you what you want.

* You can only get so far if you don't care. If you don't care, your skill and natural athletic ability will eventually fade. Its having pride in yourself as an athlete, in your team and why you play that takes you the extra little step. Its the true grit of a team and an athlete that wins championships.

* In baseball, they use the term "hack" to describe a good miss. Seems kind of backwards. But not really if you think about it. They see a pitch, and just swing the crap out of the bat because if they did hit the ball, it is a definitely a home run. But if you miss, at least it was a good miss. Big risks get big rewards. But they also get big misses. But you don't know unless you swing.

* Every game you should leave everything on the field or court; hold nothing back. What is the point of competing, if you are only going to give 80% effort?

*Everyone plays for something, someone or for some reason.

So now.....you tell me......do sports have any connection to real life? Any connection to Christianity?