The WyldTri season of 2010 has come to an exciting end. It was not the way I saw it ending. With this being my second season in this crazy world of triathlons, I had a few lofty goals. Two of which were to qualify for the 70.3 Worlds in Clearwater, Fl. and to complete a Sprint Triathlon in under an hour. Neither of which I achieved, but what I achieved was so much more.
I was able to compete in 6 triathlons, 5 of them were Sprints and 1 was an Olympic triathlon. Over the next 6 weeks I will recap my season race by race, and what God has taught me as well in each event. In these events I was able to achieve: 2 Age-group wins, a Second place Age-group finish, a Third place Age-group finish and 2 Fifth place Age-group finishes. Also I managed 3 top 10 overall finishes and a top 20 overall finish as well. (Not bad for a 44 year old man.) I also qualified for the USAT Age-group Nationals. I think the most wonderful and rewarding accomplishment was that I was able to train/mentor 2 people in finishing their goal of completing a Triathlon. I also was able to do the run with 3 people while they were completing a Triathlon for the first time, as well. What an honor it was to have a front row seat to watching people complete their quest of becoming a Triathlete.
I started my season with the plan of competing in the 70.3 in New Orleans. However, due to an upper thigh injury I realized that I would just be finishing and not Qualifying. I set my sights on a few other races instead. It was during this period God started working on me. I had thought by going out and smashing each race. I would somehow honor God. by giving him the glory for my efforts. While I did just that, something started to happen. God was changing me.
While I was getting faster, stronger and more confident. I was also reading God's word, praying, and starting to act different. I realized that during training sessions I found myself talking to God. I was asking Him for the strength to do the workouts. I found myself asking God to guide my life and my training sessions as well. During my training sessions I found myself praying, not only for strength in my training but for others as well as myself. I found myself saying, "not by my strength, but by your Power God!" I started to have a desire to serve God not only in the Church I attend, but also in my public life as well. I found that I must show the people I work with my new found love for the Lord. I actually told a co-worker one time that I honestly believed that God wants to work through me, but I did not know how just yet. That is when I started, Staring at Lines. Although I do not believe this is all he wants me to do, I believe there is more to come.
You may be wondering what caused this new change? It was really simple. I found a new church that fits me. A church where I feel at home. A place where people do not judge you, they encourage you to live right. It is a place where it is easy to get motivated about living for Jesus. It is also without a doubt the Funnest Place on Earth. A place where you can hear the Greatest Message on Earth, JESUS. It is the reason that I look forward to Sunday, just so I can go to church. To worship God in song and be fed the Word of God. Don't get me wrong it was not the building that brought this great change, but the people who helped bring this great change. It was being around people who loved Jesus, and were excited to see what He was doing in each and everyone else's lives.(Matthew 18:19-20)
I find it interesting that the early Church was the same way. They were excited about what God was doing in their lives. They were so united that when they met to pray the walls shook.(Acts 4:31) People were added to the church daily, and people were being healed. How could you not be excited about Jesus? The Early church had the fire of the Holy Spirit, and they met with each other daily to praise the Living God.(Acts 2:42:-47) It is knowing that Jesus is with us by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have realized one thing, it is not me holding on to Jesus, but it is God who is holding onto me. That has carried me this far.
So continue to follow me and although my Journey may have changed, my message is still the same.(I Corrinthians 9:23-27) Please follow me as I share my races and faith experiences with you. Please walk with me as we continue...Staring at Lines.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
To what are you Commited to?
People do triathlons for various reasons. The first is always to loose weight and get healthy. Some choose to do Tri's for the Challenge and or the Journey it takes them on. yet others do it for the chance to raise money for a special charity. You also have those few who just love to compete, (like yours truly). There are a few other reason of which I have not mentioned, but it is these reasons that motivate us to do triathlons.
Even with all these reasons there seems to be two types of triathletes. There are competitors and then there are participants. Competitors are the ones who love the battle of competition. They have the fire to compete and it is all about the hardware for them. While participants just want to have fun, to them, the challenge of finishing is their quest. For them the quest of the day is to finish and if it is a P.R. (personal record) that is the bonus.
The one thing about both of these two groups is, they share a common bond. This can be summed up in one word , commitment. Everyday they get up and do the workouts required for that day. Committed to learning the skill of swimming, cycling, and running. Doing what it takes to do what most people would never dream of doing. Although not perfect, some days they might not do the workout and sometimes they just do it half way, but overall they get the work done. They pursue their passion with what motivates them whether it be peers, family and friends they get out there and do their thing.
What is ironic is that there are two types of Christians as well. The first type of Christians are well Christians. They claim the name of Jesus, and try with the best of their abilities, through the Holy Spirit, to live a life that emulates the example of what Jesus set for us. The other group is what my Pastor calls the Christian Atheist. A Christian Atheist? How can you use the words Christian and Atheist as one tittle? Well let me explain. A Christian Atheist is someone who claims the name of Jesus but yet lives as if he does not exist. This group of people go to church sing the Praises of God. They hear the Word of God taught and explained. They feel the Spirit of God move them. Then go home and live like what they just did actually didn't even happen at all. (2Tim 3:1-7, Gal.5:16-26, Heb. 10:26-39)
I wish i could say I have never been a Christian Atheist but I have. I was once a Christian Atheist. Professing the name of Jesus but living my live as He did not exists. Claiming the name of Christ and doing my own thing, my own way. The Good news is that just like getting off the wrong running path covered with thorns and brush. God has provided a way for us to get back on the right path. I John 1:9 says it all. "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The Psalmist David wrote a whole Psalm on asking God to bring him back to fellowship with God after commiting the sin of adultry. (Psalm 51) We can walk in darkness like the Christian Atheist or we can walk in Light and fellowship with the Father. (1 John 1:5-7, Romans 8:1-11) The path of life is much easier to follow in the Light, as we are Staring At Lines.
Even with all these reasons there seems to be two types of triathletes. There are competitors and then there are participants. Competitors are the ones who love the battle of competition. They have the fire to compete and it is all about the hardware for them. While participants just want to have fun, to them, the challenge of finishing is their quest. For them the quest of the day is to finish and if it is a P.R. (personal record) that is the bonus.
The one thing about both of these two groups is, they share a common bond. This can be summed up in one word , commitment. Everyday they get up and do the workouts required for that day. Committed to learning the skill of swimming, cycling, and running. Doing what it takes to do what most people would never dream of doing. Although not perfect, some days they might not do the workout and sometimes they just do it half way, but overall they get the work done. They pursue their passion with what motivates them whether it be peers, family and friends they get out there and do their thing.
What is ironic is that there are two types of Christians as well. The first type of Christians are well Christians. They claim the name of Jesus, and try with the best of their abilities, through the Holy Spirit, to live a life that emulates the example of what Jesus set for us. The other group is what my Pastor calls the Christian Atheist. A Christian Atheist? How can you use the words Christian and Atheist as one tittle? Well let me explain. A Christian Atheist is someone who claims the name of Jesus but yet lives as if he does not exist. This group of people go to church sing the Praises of God. They hear the Word of God taught and explained. They feel the Spirit of God move them. Then go home and live like what they just did actually didn't even happen at all. (2Tim 3:1-7, Gal.5:16-26, Heb. 10:26-39)
I wish i could say I have never been a Christian Atheist but I have. I was once a Christian Atheist. Professing the name of Jesus but living my live as He did not exists. Claiming the name of Christ and doing my own thing, my own way. The Good news is that just like getting off the wrong running path covered with thorns and brush. God has provided a way for us to get back on the right path. I John 1:9 says it all. "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The Psalmist David wrote a whole Psalm on asking God to bring him back to fellowship with God after commiting the sin of adultry. (Psalm 51) We can walk in darkness like the Christian Atheist or we can walk in Light and fellowship with the Father. (1 John 1:5-7, Romans 8:1-11) The path of life is much easier to follow in the Light, as we are Staring At Lines.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Welcone to Staring at Lines.
Welcome to my blog. My name is Ric Simmons and I am a Christian Triathlete. My Friends know me as Ric and my fellow Triathletes know me as the Wyldchyld. The ideal of a blog came to me while I was swimming. Yes I said swimming. It seems that there are only 2 things I can do while swimming and these are think about stuff and pray. It was during these think and prayer sessions I realized I am always staring at lines.
I stare at lines when I swim, I stare at lines when I ride my bicycle on the road, and yes those dreaded lines out on the run. Those lines are everywhere even on the running trails you might know them as running paths. These lines tell me where to go when to turn and basically guides me in my journey of that day.
Isn't it similar to the Christian life? God has given us a path to follow. That path is called the Bible. It is a journey that starts with Creation in Genesis and leads right to the Cross in the Gospels (Matthew,Mark,Luke and John) to Heaven in Revelations. You see for the Christian the Journey starts at the Cross. This is where Jesus died for our sins so that we could have eternal life. (Romans 6:8-10) For us to start on this path we must come to him and admit that we are a sinner and that Jesus died for us and claim the gift of eternal life. (John 3:16)
Now on this journey we call the Christian life we will have trials and we will have temptations and yes you will fail. Just remember to do as you parents once told you when you were riding your bike. If you fall, just get back up and do it again. God says in His Word (I John 1:9) "If we confess our sins He is faithful and Just to forgive us of our sins". Just get back up ask for forgiveness and get back on the path.
This is where we start this journey of the Christian/Tri life. We will go hand in hand and yes we will make some mistakes and stray from the path. I know we will find our way back to the right path. So welcome to my Journey and follow me as we Stare at lines together.
Ric "The Wyldchyld" Simmons
I stare at lines when I swim, I stare at lines when I ride my bicycle on the road, and yes those dreaded lines out on the run. Those lines are everywhere even on the running trails you might know them as running paths. These lines tell me where to go when to turn and basically guides me in my journey of that day.
Isn't it similar to the Christian life? God has given us a path to follow. That path is called the Bible. It is a journey that starts with Creation in Genesis and leads right to the Cross in the Gospels (Matthew,Mark,Luke and John) to Heaven in Revelations. You see for the Christian the Journey starts at the Cross. This is where Jesus died for our sins so that we could have eternal life. (Romans 6:8-10) For us to start on this path we must come to him and admit that we are a sinner and that Jesus died for us and claim the gift of eternal life. (John 3:16)
Now on this journey we call the Christian life we will have trials and we will have temptations and yes you will fail. Just remember to do as you parents once told you when you were riding your bike. If you fall, just get back up and do it again. God says in His Word (I John 1:9) "If we confess our sins He is faithful and Just to forgive us of our sins". Just get back up ask for forgiveness and get back on the path.
This is where we start this journey of the Christian/Tri life. We will go hand in hand and yes we will make some mistakes and stray from the path. I know we will find our way back to the right path. So welcome to my Journey and follow me as we Stare at lines together.
Ric "The Wyldchyld" Simmons
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