Today I received a totally unexpected shot of insight and inspiration. This occurred at 7 a.m. and, of all places for me, at a swimming pool. I can swim a bit but not well, so I am not really a water person.
However, this morning I was privileged to drive grandsons Emmit and TJ to their daily swim workout at Janesville’s beautiful Rockport Pool. They are part of the J-Hawk Aquatic team and are practicing at Rockport this summer. The team covers a wide age range, so the pool was full of young athletes. While the boys prepared themselves, I set up shop at an umbrella covered picnic table. I had my book, my notebook, a good Parker pen, and a thermos of coffee made at home with Dave’s Power Blend beans from Sharla’s. My thermos was a great insulated bottle given to me by my friend, Melissa. It is embossed with the Bible verse Joshua 1:9 – “Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest,”
As I savored my coffee and perused the scene, I was awe stricken by a pool filled with young people (kids, as it were) enthusiastically swimming regimented laps in a variety of strokes. Every lane was full. Those kids were working hard but they were having fun. Yes, there was complaining but there was also much good- hearted repartee. So apparent was the hard work, the enthusiasm, the dedication, the discipline – all resulting in excellence. Little in life comes to us without developing these qualities. AND, for these kids, all of this at 7 a.m. on a Monday morning.
I was nearly overwhelmed with observing their lean, lithe, muscled bodies, their beautiful execution of strokes I cannot possibly do, their fitness level of being able to swim lap after lap while I lifted a cup of coffee a few times. They had accomplished more physical effort by 8:30 Monday morning than many of us will complete in a week.
My mind took me to some thoughts from author, Stephen Covey, who, in one of his books, discusses the concept of small private victories every day. I have found this to be a powerful motivator for me. I will not expound on it here but just consider what these kids could check off their lists by 8:30 on a Monday morning. What a start on the day and the week!
These reflections are not limited to swimming. They could be applied to any initiative in our lives. They are about small private victories that require us to be strong and courageous. I can’t do everything, but I can do something, i.e., get up a bit earlier, take a walk around the block or to the end of the driveway, do those stretches, cull those files, compose that draft, send someone a note, weed that flower bed.
Just imagine how fulfilled these kids must feel at the close of pool time. Yes, they would be tired but a contented, satisfied tired. I could hear their animation, their energy as it was spilling over onto me. It was 8:30 on Monday morning and they had accomplished so much already, more than many of us will accomplish the entire week.
So, this morning I was inspired and struck to my core about issues in my life. I don’t believe in coincidences. God put me at that pool early this morning for a reason. He gave me those kids to wake me up and inspire me. Thank you, J-Hawk swimmers, for the lesson you gave to me today.
