Spiritual Awakening: Keep Going!!!

I remember a day back in 1980 when I was a freshman in high school and was participating in my first swim meet when my coach entered me in the 500 yard freestyle. I knew I could do the 20 lengths of the pool as I had plenty of endurance. I kept reminding myself to just keep going and not to give up. I swam what is considered a slow time of over 8 minutes and when I finished the fans all applauded. I didn’t know if they were applauding that I had finished or that they could move onto the next race. Over the years I would improve and eventually I would be come a top ranked competitive swimmer in the state. Not only did I do long distance my coach would enter me in the 100 yard free style and 200 yard freestyle and I would start to win those races as well as the 500 yard freestyle. When I went to college I swam what it referred to as unattached as the university did not have a swim team yet but had built this great aquatics complex. I share this with you to illustrate just how important it is to keep going. The day I decided not to swim competitively any longer was the day I realized a higher calling and that was to teach swimming. One of my biggest rewards came when one of the younger kids about age 5 who was really afraid of the water said I will go in if Mr. Jon takes me. I took the child into the pool and he clutched me and wouldn’t let go but at least I had him in the water. Over the next 10 days I would work with that child and he would start to hold on to the wall checking that I was with arms reach and then on day 11 he moved his arms and legs and swam from the wall to me about 15 feet away. The summer went on and each day the boy would go a bit further and further. On the final day of camp it was traditional to pick up any tips at the office. There was one tip that stood out it was from the young boys mom and a note that read I don’t have much but I wanted to thank you for giving my son a great summer. The steak I bought that night tasted a bit sweeter knowing that I kept going and as a result made a positive impact on a child. As The Fall Semester began I received a letter from the camp director with a hand written note that said they said not to hire you they were wrong I want you back. I went back the next summer and on the first day of camp there was the little boy from the year before and now he was swimming in the deep end and moving up to next Red Cross Swimming Level. When I saw this a sense of pride came over me. It was then that I realized my calling is to help other people excel.
It has been 28 years since I taught swimming at Hofstra University yet the words of the camp direct Sy Levenger still fuel me as I know there are those that are doubters that  will say what others have said don’t hire him or don’t use his services. I have learned that people will judge and try to hold you back but you will also have lifters and those who believe in you so remove those who no longer serve you and surround yourself with lifters. It is when we decide to keep moving and follow our spiritual calling that we create peace, love, joy, and abundance in our lives. It is when we take action despite the naysayers that we find success. Our human existence often interferes with our spiritual existence because we worry so much about what others will say and so many times what they say affects us. In overcoming this and understanding our own spirituality we can take action to let go and let GOD. We can adopt anthems that keep us going. I have  learned that their will be disappointments but in reality it is not a disappointment it is something happening in GOD’s plan as GOD knows your name and your purpose and will deliver to you all you need in each season of your life. In high school GOD needed me to show others that persistence and hard work pays off. In college GOD needed me to show children that they were capable. As I get older I begin to understand that I am a conduit for GOD to utilize to help others excel as they experience their own spiritual awakening.