Guest Contributor: 1stLt Inman, Jordan S. “Big-X”. United States Marine Corps. Marine Aviation Training Support Group-21. Pensacola, FL. WPD Alpha Group.
My target point is that expectations and standards will always exist. How you let these impact you will be what affects your soul. Do they drive you, or do they weigh you down?
– Jordan “Big-X” Inman
How does soul and sport relate to one another? For those who have a background in higher-level athletics, I suggest that poorly managed sport expectations and standards can mess with your soul.
Let’s start by defining soul. Let me suggest that your soul clarifies your truest identity and where you find deep purpose. With that in mind, as a Christian athlete, soul and sport now are more integrated. If you are like me, you can get wrapped up in sport expectations and standards. Keep in mind, these expectations and standards are set generally by others who do not take a holistic view of the student-athlete, unlike WPDSports which considers academic, social, athletic, and spiritual dimensions. Collegiate athletics can help prepare you for life after sport. Through the development of self-discipline, sports can equip you to handle the expectations and standards of the post-sport, career-driven life. But you must be careful.
My target point is that expectations and standards will always exist. How you let these impact you will be what affects your soul. Do they drive you, or do they weigh you down?
Look at Mark 12:30-31, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Sure, in college I focused on the soul piece but often wondered if I replaced “Love the Lord your God” with “Train for your sport.” Focus changes.
Collegiate athletics tend to have this approach. Whether intentional or not, sport has the tendency to reframe your identity, shifting focus away from SOUL and Redeemer. “Put your HEART into your sport,” they say. “Give your STRENGTH. Be the best you can be,” some shout. “Get your MIND right and focus on outcomes,” they must. Essentially, fix your eyes one the sport and not the Father.
Let me share my story. For a frame of reference, I competed in cross country and track through the collegiate level. Frankly, I let my sport consume me. Yes, I was successful. However, in that success I started to lose sight of my truest identity (the soul piece). You need to know my collegiate running stint was plagued with injuries. How did I handle high-level expectations and standards when I could not manage a single race in a season? Poorly. I battled myself. My sport created a very unhealthy version of myself. I had internal drive. I had fire. But injuries and personal trials were like gasoline on that fire. Out of control! I felt sad and ashamed.
With help from other mature student-athletes and my time in WPD, I reframed my sadness and shame. I returned, though slowly, back to my soul – the place of my truest identity. Frankly, I am His and He is mine. What a foundation from which to carry on sport and life beyond!
Currently, I serve as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps, training in a very rigorous flight program. New expectations and standards abound. I am told to pour everything into my training, to be the best and to succeed. I am committed, but I wonder at what cost? I am mindful of the tension, and I keep feeding my soul.
Remember, in college it was soul and sport. Remember, I let expectations and standards take hold of me and drive my days. Remember, my identity was in the sport. No longer. My identity isn’t in my job (calling) or my running training. Sure, I train (including running) endlessly and study for hours, but I prioritize my relationship with Jesus – the Lover of my soul.
I can’t relate alone so I seek a like-minded community which supports me. In addition, I talk to God more about what is happening in my training, career, and relationships. I let him be involved. I am not trying to do this on my own like I did in the collegiate days.
Let me suggest this, if you place your truest identity(soul)into someone or some temporal system, be warned. If you lose someone or the system fails, you will be left with a void and sadness so empty that you question your deepest purpose. Sport is temporal. Systems are temporal.
Consider giving your heart, mind, soul, and strength to the everlasting (not temporal) Son of God. Priorities will realign. Student-athlete if you “get” what I am saying, please sit down and holistically evaluate yourself. Discover what truly grips your heart, mind, soul, and strength. You may simply ask the Lord to reorder our priorities. But it will cost.
Others may need to meet Jesus for the first time. That will be life changing. I promise you will think more soundly about life and feel more satisfied knowing that your truest identity resides in the Lover of both soul and sport. – Big-X
