"We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and
clap as they go by."
-- Will Rogers
Last week I wrote about the wonderful support I received after
admitting that I'd had a panic attack in the ocean in a triathlon. I
shared this with others when I decided to try again and enter the Pacific
Coast Triathlon this year with our daughter, Amy. Family and friends
encouraged me to face my fear by cheering me on, swimming with and
praying for me.
If I'd kept quiet about my fear, I wouldn't have known others had
similar experiences. If I'd kept quiet, I probably wouldn't have tried
again. If I'd kept quiet, I would have missed out on so much.
On the morning of the race, Amy and I said a quick prayer for peace
and safety while walking down the beach. I calmly watched the waves of
competitors take off, and felt surprisingly peaceful when the horn
signaled the start for my age group.
I ran and dived in the water and said to myself, "OK Cindy, here we
go."
Then I started swimming, almost oblivious to all the arms and legs
splashing and thrashing around me. I'd told our daughter, Kelly, who is
still in Argentina, that I would pray for her. So while stroking I
prayed, "Thank you God, please bless Kelly. Thank you God, please bless
Kelly."
I had a pretty good rhythm going, until I was overrun by several
swimmers and swallowed a slug of saltwater. I came up sputtering and
muttering. I kept my head up for awhile and watched swimmers pass me. I
thought of all the people praying for me and knew I had to continue.
I began swimming and praying again.
As I left the water and ran to the bike racks for the race's second
segment, I heard people cheering and picked up my pace. Somehow the
increased enthusiasm of their voices fueled my decreasing energy.
Amy said she too was spurred on when she heard her high school coach,
her grandfather and others yelling for her. There is power in cheering.
Kimberly Coleman, another triathlon participant, enjoyed the
energizing power as well. Unlike me, however, Kimberly had enough
vitality to cheer for others while still racing.
"Half way through the swim I realized surfing hadn't prepared me for
the distance," Kimberly said. "I looked around and saw the beauty of
God's creation. Then I saw other swimmers and thought, 'If I'm not going
to do well, I can at least encourage others to.' For five minutes I
cheered and said, 'You can do it, good job.' I was amazed at the energy
it gave me."
Kimberly competed in the triathlon as a relay with her father. She
swam, her dad biked and she ran.
"I did it to have fun with my dad, and it was great," she said.
Kimberly especially noticed the powerful effect of encouragement during
the run.
"The more I cheered people on, the more strength God gave me," she
said. "The encouragement was contagious. The next day I read a proverb
that says, 'He who refreshes others gets refreshed.' And that's just what
happened. It was awesome; I'll do it again for sure."
Cheering for others energizes everyone involved. It's a power bar for
the soul. And you can quote me on that.
* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks
frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at o7
cindy@onthegrow.com f7 or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,
Newport Beach, CA 92658.
