Catching Kayla - The Rest of the Story

If you found interest & maybe inspiration in my blog, Catching Kayla, then I urge you to watch this video showing you the rest of the story.  You will hear Kayla professing her faith, and attributing her amazing story to her return to God.

Kayla Montgomery - This Is My Calling

https://www.facebook.com/lipscombbisons/videos/this-is-my-calling-kayla-montgomery/10156552280690109/


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Catching Kayla

When you consider the phrase, “I’m going to catch them at it” what comes to mind?  Think about times, if there are any, when you may have been caught.  What does it feel like to be caught?  Is it positive or negative?  How has being caught affected your behavior?

Most of my readers already know that I am wordy.  This post is no exception. It is long because, as part of my message, I am asking you to watch a 15 minute video for which I have included a link.  In my humble opinion, this investment of time will pay dividends to you as I believe it will raise valuable questions in your mind as it did in mine.  I first viewed this video a few years ago.  It continues to haunt me.  Ostensibly, Catching Kayla is about a young girl athlete and her coach.  This certainly provides the story line. But I happen to believe that it is about each and every one of us as we go through our lives with our families, with our community, with our co-workers, with the broader world.  I can nearly guarantee you will not be unaffected by watching.  I have my tissues ready.  You may want to have yours close at hand.

Please watch video here and then continue reading.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dvKjPzU39o&t=168s

Now, with the video fresh in your mind, where are your thoughts going in regarding to being caught?  Have you been caught from the perspective of Kayla?  How does that feel?  How has being caught in this manner affected your behavior?

This stuff just ignites my mind and my introspection.  It makes me consider – From what do I need to be caught?  Do I want to be caught or do I fight against it?  In what ways am I caught?  Has anyone ever said something like this to you, “You’re out of bounds.  Get back in line.”?

In light of Kayla, who is catching me?  Do I have six friends who will someday carry my coffin?  Do I have a friend or friends who will who will “whistle me” back to reality when my behavior, my words, my demeanor, need correction or adjustment.  I certainly hope so.  If I don’t, I’d better cultivate them.  From the video – There is one voice pushing Kayla – HER COACH, HER CATCHER.  “He pushes me and I trust him with my life.”  Kayla has someone, a coach, who cares deeply about her and who is not afraid to inject himself into her life. His voice, “GO TO THE ARMS, KAYLA.  DROP THE HAMMER- YOU’VE GOT TO GO NOW!”  Don’t we all need coaches like this in our lives?

This causes me to ponder – In what ways am I caught? What does this look like?

Can I catch myself?  Should I be caught?  Do I know when I’ve been caught?  How do I know this?

Now here’s an interesting twist – How do I let someone know I need to be caught?  How do I let the catcher know they have caught me?  How do I thank someone for catching me?

Who might our catchers be?

Spouses                    Significant others

Children                    Former spouses

Grandchildren          Teachers

Siblings                      Bosses

Friends                       Authors

Enemies                     Musicians

Pastors                       Parents

Counselors                 Co-workers

Am I am catcher?  How do I become a catcher for someone else?

Notes

Texts

Calls

E-mails

Prayers

Sharing coffee, breakfast, lunch, drinks, walks, runs, bike rides

How do we know when to catch other people?

Times of stress

High work loads

Heading toward depression

Souring relationships

Destructive behavior – over-eating, over-drinking, obsessions

Abusive/obnoxious/out-of-character behavior

Sometimes, people ask

Have you ever had a clear message to catch someone?  What are your successful catching behaviors?

Others will need our help.  To quote Kayla’s coach, “She needs help then because she’s somewhat helpless.”  We and others will be helpless at times also.

Many have posed the question, “Why does Kayla do this?”  Her reply is, “It makes me feel normal & whole. I am battling and SAFE while running.”   Her coach asserts, “She runs to beat it, to outrun it, to know you got every movement out of those legs while you still can.”  Are not all of our lives like this to some degree?  Once in the video, when Kayla was helpless at the finish of a race, in the midst of her suffering, she asked her coach, “Do you know what my time was?” We humans are something and we all need catchers to smooth us out.

Kayla wanted to run.  Her coach stated that she was an average runner at best – that maybe she would make varsity by her senior year.  She made a commitment to her coach and her coach to her.  She became extremely effective and successful but she could not do it alone.  Kayla ran into her coach’s arms and into first place!

Let’s leverage our skills, abilities, and talents by committing to being catchers and to being caught so that we can achieve great things for ourselves and our communities.

#cruzan4milton#WAM