Crossroads
Tuesday, September 07, 2010

This column appears weekly in The Bargain Hunter and Wooster Weekly News.


***********************************
 
Some moments in life take you to a new place. A place you have not been. Some challenges in life stretch you beyond your capabilities and make you stronger, if you let them. These are crossroad moments.

I have been watching my daughter, Sydney, in a crossroad moment for the last few weeks, and it has been an amazing experience.

Sydney joined the Dalton Intermediate Cross Country team, and it has been the first time she has been involved in athletics for quite a while. Well, since Mike and I forced (I mean encouraged) her to play coach pitch softball when she was eight. At the end of that season, she announced she was done with softball, and that was that.

This summer, we asked her if she wanted to try running cross country. She has the build for it with long legs and a great stride. She decided to give it a try.

So this year, I have been attending cross country meets, and cheering her on as she embarks on the two-mile journey from start to finish. I have realized how little I know about cross country and about running in general. I am learning cheers like “Use the hill!” and “Keep up your pace!”

And let me tell you that attending a cross country meet is nothing like any other sporting event you will attend. I try to wear my own running shoes as I jog from one location where the runners are crossing a path to cheer Sydney on then jog to the next bend in the path where I can encourage again. It is quite the audience participation work out!

Sydney has always had this amazing spirit, this drive to accomplish great things. And cross country is helping her grow this spirit even more.

She starts every race with a determined look on her face and takes off like lightening. As the race goes on, she pushes herself far beyond her limits and keeps a pace I never would have imagined her running.

She places in the middle of the pack, but keeps moving up. From 35th to 33rd, and last night to 15th. Her times are getting better with each race and she is finding out what she is made of and how strong she truly is.

And she is a part of one amazing cross country team. Coach Greer is one of the best coaches I have ever seen in any sport. She is positive and encouraging, and makes each runner feel special and important. Before every meet, she writes each of the runners a personal, encouraging note about what they have accomplished so far this season, and how they can continue to run well in the upcoming meet.

I am keeping each of Sydney’s notes as I know they will mean a lot to her as the years go by.

And I know the years will go by swiftly.

I don’t know what God has in store for Sydney’s future, what paths He will guide her on and where she will run to. I do know that this cross country team is preparing her for a lifetime of journeys.

This cross country experience has been a crossroad moment in her life. It is taking her to a new place. A place she has not yet been. She is facing challenges and stretching herself beyond her capabilities. She is growing stronger with each race in mind, body and soul.

And I am blessed just to be along for the run.

Catch up with Trish at www.TrishBerg.com

Posted by Trish Berg 5:09 AM  

Labels: , , ,

1 Comment:

  1. Karen said...
    4:56 AM  
    I remember those days. I had a cross country runner too and being a spectator was challenging. The sport taught him perseverance. He's now a PhD.

Post a Comment