I Connick the Terminator

Chapter 25: S.I.N

A fellow triathlete, Tim Maynard and I were on an early morning ride. We started sharing stories about some of our previous races. We especially found a certain sick pleasure of explaining just how much pain and suffering we endured during the challenge. It turns out this is a common thread among endurance athletes.  This training session turned out to be an opportunity to discuss the possible truth behind why we like to talk about pain and suffering.

The discussion took a turn, when we discussed, why do people do things that they know are wrong? Why do schools or groups get ex-cons to come speak to them? Why don't they have someone who has made a series of good decisions and is successful, to speak to them? Could it be that we want to learn how they made it to the finish line? How did they overcome the challenge or dig themselves out of the situation they put themselves in?

This lead to the possibility that the word sin was an acronym for the reason Jesus died on the cross for us. Therefore, we started spit- balling about what the S and I stood for. We came up with Self Induced. Then Tim pulled this word out of his wealth of sports medicine knowledge, Neuroglycopania. This means the total loss of all neurological stores, all glycogen stores and fluid stores. 

 So we as people chose to do things that are going to cause pain and suffering, but Jesus took on and still takes on, this overwhelming burden, that is no fault of his own, and suffers because of love. To the point of totally emptying all that he has inside. That is what Jesus did for us. He emptied himself for our need to do the wrong thing and then tell the story of our own pain and suffering. Weird.

In the world of ironman triathlons and other enduring sports, we challenge ourselves. We put ourselves to the test. We want to see just how far we can go before we have had enough. After the challenge, we tell the story of pain and suffering. We actually pay to do this to ourselves. The more pain the better story. Sick!

This need to suffer or watch others suffer, may be why we continue to talk about the passion Jesus had for the human race. Think about it; there was a human race 2020 years ago and one person was running it for us. Despite the odds being stacked against him, despite the fact that he fell three times and despite the fact that so many people were trying to stop him, he never quit and he made it to the finish line.  By the way, the finish line of an ironman is the best place to be!

There are so many stories we can tell of fighting the good fight. Let us stop telling stories of pain and suffering. Let us look at the risen Christ that died on a cross for our stupidity. Let us look at the great friendship that inspires us to do good for others and forgive those who do us wrong. No more S.I.N., make the right choice. Tell of the victory over the dark side of humanity. Cross your finish line daily with your head held high, knowing you fought the good fight and you have kept the faith.