Ephiphanies
I love ideas. My teammates joke that you can name any topic and I will
probably have read a blog about it. I
especially love when I can make a connection between two seemingly
unconnected ideas. We have a word for this kind of magic - an epiphany.
I had an epiphany recently. We were learning about Physical Literacy -
teaching the ABC’s and 123’s of movement before assuming people can play sports
or compete. The instructor had us moving around the room doing silly actions
and I found myself embarrassed at being paraded around the room in front of
everyone. I was so upset I left the room and hid in the office. Later the topic
turned to how negative experiences can hinder our physical literacy
development. Suddenly I realized my anger and embarrassment was connected to something
deeper. Gym class was probably the least safe place for me. As I began to
process this layer of hurt I realized how deep it ran. I saw how even now as an
adult youth worker, I still avoid school gyms. The smoke pit is my second home
but please don’t make me go to the PE teacher’s office.
I had a second opportunity for Physical Literacy training so I decided
to face my fears and go again. I had a
second epiphany while there. Perhaps our sport programs shouldn’t be run
by the jock who never struggled with sports. Perhaps you want the person who
understands the struggle and builds a program that makes it safe and fun for
everyone to learn and compete. That’s when I realized the parallels with
ministry. God loves to use people who’ve
been broken to serve the broken. Perhaps I have more to offer in the gymnasium
than I thought.
Post-epiphany the connection seems so obvious. An epiphany can change
the world (like Isaac Newton’s
apple) but most epiphanies start by changing you.
- Derian Julihn
- Derian Julihn
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