Spiritual Awakening: Keep Pressing On!!!!
In life you are very lucky if you get an opportunity to do something you love and also get paid for it. I have been fortunate during my spiritual awakening to connect with The Miami Fury Women’s Tackle Football Team and their owner Gayla Harrington. Gayla exemplifies the idea of pressing on and never giving up. She has overcome much adversity in the years that she has owned The Miami Fury. Her dedication radiates a spiritual energy to all those she comes in contact with as she is always positive despite any challenges that may be going on in her personal and professional life. As I announced The Miami Fury Game today and witnessed them win the game 42-8 one theme kept reoccurring and that was keep pressing on.
The game began and their opponent, The Jacksonville Dixie Blues, looked like they would drive down the field and score then they suffered an intentional grounding penalty, then they snapped the ball over the punter and The Fury recovered at The Dixie Blues 11 yard line and the QB Jessica Childers scored on an 11 yard run to give The Fury a 6-0 lead. The 2 point conversion would fail. The Fury continued to press on and took a 22-0 lead. The Dixie Blues would return the kickoff for a TD and convert on a 2 point try making the score 22-8. The Fury would press on and play hard to eventually win 42-8. As I walked down from the press box I saw the players and coaches from both teams gathered at mid field in a prayer circle. As the game unfolded I would do shout outs for the cure and would learn about the passing of Michael Childers, Jessica Childers’ Uncle. I would summon up some strength to have everyone do a moment of remembrance. The game elicited many angles that are part of the spiritual awakening process. It had many moments of joy tinged with some sadness illustrating the balance in our lives. In life we will have joy and bliss but we will also experience sadness and despair. We will experience ups and downs. We will win and we will lose. The key is to understand that all that happens happens for us and contains a lesson to propel us along our spiritual journey so that we can have spiritual enlightenment.
This is one of my favorite poems and I use it as a tool to keep pressing on and to encourage all of you to never give up and to keep pressing on. I remember that the brink of a breakthrough comes right as you want to quit. Think about how many times you have pressed on and kept going and the results. I remember being in a walk-a-thon many years ago and my feet were all blistered, I was sunburnt beyond belief, I was dehydrated, and I felt like quitting, however something inside kept telling me to press on. There was 100 yards between me and the finish line I fell several times I crawled then I stood up and then I felt it an angel pushing me and running with me the final 20 yards. I broke the tape and then I took care of all my ailments. Many people came to me and said how I inspired them to press on and I knew at that time that one of my mantras was going to finish whatever I started to honor my commitments and to always deliver on what I promised. Through pressing on and never giving up I have seen an improvement in my personal and professional life.
One of my favorite speeches of all time is Jim Valvano’s speech at the ESPYS where he was awarded the first ever Arthur Ashe Courage Award. His speech delivers some great principles to live by. Jim Valvano was called home to GOD shortly after his ESPYS Speech and here we are many years later realizing that his impact has been incredible. In our spiritual awakening process it is important to be passionate about life, to take action, and to keep pressing on.
When you press on and you put yourself in the arena you will find that you are lifted spiritually, physically, and emotionally. At the end of the day if you can honestly say I gave 100% and did my best you will find that you will grow in spirit.
Though I did not live in The Vince Lombardi Era this as I studied the game and coaches he quickly became one of my favorites. The true joy comes from pressing on and never giving up by staying positive. Press on and continue your Spiritual Awakening Process.
