Leaving it All on the Field
By Steve Gahagen
When I was in high school in Western New York, I ran the half mile and was part of the two mile relay on the track team (four people running half mile legs). The half mile is a challenging race because it is both a sprint and endurance contest. It’s a fast race, but because of its length, one has to preserve energy so as not to fizzle out at the end.
Though not the fastest on our team, I did manage to win one race that took place in Niagara Falls on a snowy day. I remember the snow flurries falling as we took off our sweats preparing for the race. I ran a 2:12 that day, which is not exceptionally fast but enough to take first place on a chilly afternoon.
I remember often being fearful that I would run out of gas at the end of a race. That can happen to a runner when suddenly there is nothing left and no amount of will power can overcome the exhaustion. Because of that fear, I always wondered if I ever ran my best or fastest. Was I so afraid of running out of steam that I never left it all on the field (track)? Was I always holding something back so I wouldn’t have to face the failure of not finishing a race, but in the end, sabotaging the chance to run my fastest race ever?
In terms of living our greatest story, what does it mean to leave it all on the field, to hold nothing back? Erma Bombeck once wrote, ‘When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me’.’
Questions to Consider:
What would it mean for you to leave it all on the field?
Is there anything that stops you? What fears in our culture play into holding back?
How could our life stories be different if we left it all on the field?