S.E.E. the Light

Back when I played “ankle-biter” football as an 8-year-old, I remember how parents would pull their cars up next to field and shine their car lights

when the practice was running late and it was getting too dark to see the ball. Our coach needed more light to teach us that big play that would win

it for us on Saturday. Four cars (eight lights) lit the practice field up like a Christmas tree! As little football players, we saw the light.

As athletes we need to S.E.E. the light. Not the car lights, but another kind of light. This light deals with our physical bodies that God created

for us to take care of, not abuse. S.E.E. stands for Sleep, Eat and Exercise. I meet so many competitors who train hard on the field of competition,

but not off of it. As true competitors, we need to get enough sleep, eat right and exercise properly. These three daily physical anchors are

extremely important.

We each have a figurative dashboard, which displays three gauges: spiritual, physical and emotional. All three of these are connected, and the

physical part specifically requires wisdom, discipline and understanding (Proverbs 23:23).

There are three basic questions you need to ask when trying to S.E.E. the light:

1. “How much sleep do I need?” -- Since the physical affects the spiritual and emotional, if you do not get enough sleep, you'll be hurting other

areas of your life. Someone told me that you should H.A.L.T. before making a important decision, not making it if you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or

Tired. When you are tired, you cannot be the athlete that God desires. It isn't a question of how much sleep you can “get by” with, but how much you

need. Psalm 127:2 (MSG) states, “…It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys

giving rest to those he loves?” God cares about this area of your life. Honor that by getting enough sleep.

2. “Do I eat food as fuel?” -- I love food, but I must always remember that God not only created food to enjoy, but also to fuel the body. I won't

put bad fuel in my car, so why would I put bad fuel in my body? The FCA Competitor's Creed states, “My body is the temple of Jesus Christ. I protect

it from within and without. Nothing enters my body that does not honor the Living God.” Before we put something into our mouths, we need to ask if

it will honor God.

3. “Does exercise ever become easy?” -- I love it when people tell me that it’s “easy” for me to stay fit. I would like to take them on my daily 4-

mile run! Exercise is tough. Staying physically fit is hard. It never becomes natural. Today, competitors need to train in and out of season. God

wants us to keep our “engines” tuned up at all times. I see so many former athletes who have let their bodies go. And as every year goes by, it

gets harder. But God desires us to do something, because something is better than nothing.

These three questions will help you to S.E.E. the light. God cares about your sleep, your eating and your exercise. He created you as a physical

being because He is a physical God. Glorify Him by putting into place these three physical anchors.