Self Sacrifices- inspired by J.R. Celski

I am finding that the hardest thing about obtaining that true FFF, is time and sacrifice. There truly is not enough time to do all the things I want to. So I had to sit down and map out what is truly important and what can I sacrifice. A true athlete knows the discipline of sacrificing...

J.R. Celski, is a US speedskater who knows alot about sacrifice. When he was only 14 years old he had to move away from his close knit family to purse the dream. He and his old brother moved away from the family from Washington to Long beach, California to train with one of the best coaches there is in the sport.

He was a freshman full time in high school, training 6 days a week and trying to help his brother maintain the apartment they shared. Family vacations were taken for his tournaments and many trips back and forth were made by his parents. There is no doubt that this family saw the potential and they all made the sacrifices to make his dream a reality. One thing to note here is that although he was training and traveling all over to compete he graduated with honors and was accepted to many universities where he went on to obtain his degree.

J.R. went through many bumps in the road, leaving the sport for a short time. He also sustained a really bad injury months before the Olympics that could have cost him his life. While skating he took a fall and his own skate cut his thigh just four inches away from a main artery that could have killed him in 15 seconds. God had a bigger plan for this skater and he healed and months later he was on the ice in Canada.

On February 13th J.R. was skating in his first Olympics. He was skating among the elite and hopeful to bring home the one thing he sacrificed so much for a medal. As the race went on he kept up with most of the men. It was the last lap he was skating in the 5th position. As he came around the turn, it was clear that he was not going to medal, however he did not give up. You can see that he was still skating his heart out. The three Koreans were in the lead and when they took the last turn something happen. Something that doesn't happen with experienced and elite skaters. One of the Koreans took a bad turn taking out one of his teammates, and allowing J.R. to position himself in 3rd place. He finished the race taking a bronze medal.

I have learned two things from this man. One that the things we think are important are minimal to what is ahead. I am sure that he missed out on alot but he now has a medal that makes those things not so important. He never stopped skating that race, even though he was in 5th place, he kept the determination. He had no clue that the Koreans would fall. Sometimes we are so close to finishing what we started and we give up. We have no idea when God is going to pull something crazy out of the hat and if we give up we will never know.

What are you willing to give up for that ultimate prize? I am willing to give up anything that hinders me from running the race that God has put ahead of me. Is there something that is unhealthy holding you back from becoming that true athlete? Food?Laziness? a bad relationship? a addiction? or perhaps just bad time management?

Skating through this journey of Faith, Food and Fitness,

Monica