In high school, I was living on the fast track of life – literally. I ran track and field and cross country with all my heart, sometimes even running with the boys. I poured much of my efforts into being a better athlete. I had a vision of where I wanted my athletic abilities to go, and things were really working for me. I won the good majority of the races I entered, and people who I didn’t know, knew who I was just through my running abilities. I felt like my identity and worth were in running, and I liked that. Looking ahead to university, I decided I would only do three things: school, running, and church (once a week… maybe) My priorities were set for university, and if I had time left over, I might get involved in church stuff. But a few weeks into my first semester of university, I suffered a weird back injury that was preventing me from running – something that I thought was going to heal quickly, but dragged on for months. My back injury kept me
from all that I had planned for myself in my running, and I was very disappointed. A second injury caused me to start to doubt myself, and my abilities. I soon discovered that I didn’t really know who I was, or even what I was doing with my life. I felt like I couldn’t identify myself anymore just because I wasn’t running. My priorities were shifting, and I wasn’t too sure if I liked it. All that I had done in the past 4 years in running seemed so insignificant now that I was injured...... again.
Through the encouragement of some influential people in my life, I started getting involved with a youth oriented university movement called Catholic Christian Outreach. I developed strong friendships within this group through a Discovery faith study. I decided to go to their annual Christmas Conference, Rise Up. This was definitely the highlight of my Christmas holidays – as much as I liked being home and visiting friends and family, I gained much more than I could’ve asked for through Rise Up. At Rise Up, I personally experienced something I never thought could happen. I saw hundreds of Catholic young adults in love with God! I’ve never experienced a room full of youth singing their hearts out to Him. On the night of Eucharistic adoration, I felt deeply moved by what took place. When I looked up at the Eucharist, it was as if Jesus was standing there in the light, looking back at me. I looked into His eyes, so pure, and I felt so much shame. I fully realised that I was indeed a sinner, and that I was not the person that God made me to be. I had used running as a way to remove my anxieties, and I literally “ran away” from some of my problems. Instead of turning to God, I was running away from Him, going on my own. When running was taken away from me, I had to face these issues straight-on, and have done so with God at my side, and the Holy Spirit with me always. I now believe that being injured was the best thing for me at this point in my life. If I had not been injured, I might not have discovered my faith. Where would I be right now? Probably at some track meet, actually – running with an empty heart. I wouldn’t have the friends that I do, I wouldn’t have the same opportunities, and I wouldn’t know God. I came to the realization this past year that Jesus knew I was coming.....He knew I was going to sin, and He gave His life, just so that I might share in eternal life with Him in heaven. This message has been fed to me so many times over the years, but it didn’t really mean anything until I truly experienced God’s power in my life. Now, instead of trying to run away from God, I try to run to Him with all aspects of my life.