One Hungry Soul

Reflections on the similarities between a beginners adult gymnastics class and my relationship with God

That feeling of being so inadequate and ill equipped as someone extraordinarily proficient demonstrates a skill I’ve never dared try before, but somehow a coach having faith in my abilities is the difference between me attempting it or not

Still, I do very much question this coach’s judgement. Is banking on my abilities a terrible mistake they (and I) will long regret?  Does the coach realise how inexperienced, inflexible, untoned and OLD I am?  

I keep a close eye on my coach as we warm up. I look up often to see when to change stretches. I study the position I am to mimic, then look critically at myself and make necessary changes

My coach watches carefully as I make an attempt. Pointing out what is keeping me from perfecting the move. My coach’s ability to see the whole picture is essential for me to work out what I need to change

I am wholly trusting that my coach’s instruction will keep me from hurting myself

There are many skills one can learn in gymnastics. My coach encourages us to try them all. I start to recognize what I’m naturally good at, what I am simply not suited for, and what will take more disciplined conditioning to be able to succeed at

I am attentive to my coach’s voice. Though also instructing others in my class, I listen carefully to the instruction and correction spoken specifically for my benefit

I want to skip ahead and perform the most impressive looking moves. I need to trust my coach’s advice that when I am faithful in practicing the small steps, I will be more prepared for the harder challenges

I am embarrassed about my lack of flexibility, my propensity to leave training with a new injury every week. The coach encourages us to train daily at home, strengthening our weak areas through disciplined conditioning. In time, my injuries decrease and my flexibility increases

I beam when I hear the encouragement that I’m on the right track. I’m making progress, this time was better than last

Sometimes when I’m frustrated from practicing a move unsuccessfully, my coach studies my effort then points out a very small thing that needs to change. When I am obedient, the whole move comes together!  

I love watching those who have been training under my coach for a long time, seeing their technique, their finesse – it spurs me on to want to become proficient like them

There are things that I am not good at that I practice over and over until my coach says it’s achieved – my coach knows that eventually muscle memory will kick in after the move is practiced correctly for long enough

Some moves take real guts – they seem risky, unwise, unsafe. I need to visualize the move before I try it. My coach sees my struggle and breaks the move into baby steps for me, performing it smaller, slower, until I am confident to attempt the move in its entirety 

I am grateful for the coach’s wisdom when seemingly simple and insignificant moves that I practice over and over turn out to the the basic component of something impressive. Due to patient repetition, I can perform the complicated move with greater ease than I expect

My coach warns that although it is never without some risk performing a move, the risk of injury is much greater if I were to bail halfway through

Still I sit here pondering whether I sign up for another term. Do I quit doing something exhilarating yet risky, or forfeit this joy for the illusion of ‘safety’ that not participating offers?