Article August 28, 1989 Issue

On the right track

Being involved in sports can be demanding—and rewarding. But striving to glorify God in all we do has demands and rewards like nothing else.

George Reed

When I was in high school I started running for the cross-country team. My Christian Science Sunday School teacher constantly turned my thought to God as the source of all inspiration, talent, and right motivation. Whenever I would come to the class and talk about myself, he would faithfully say something like: "No, George, God gets the glory!" He often quoted this passage from the Bible: "Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it."^{Eccl. 3:14.} These were lessons in humility, and I caught glimpses of what it means that God is the only Ego.

My sports participation impelled me to pray and study Christian Science more consistently. For example, if hampered by fear, pain, or feelings of rivalry, I knew there needed to be changes in my thinking and motives. So I became more conscious and accepting of God's love, which destroys fear (see I John 4:18), of my painless nature as Spirit's spiritual man, and of competing to glorify divine Principle, Love, rather than to exalt. I focused thought on God, divine Mind, and favorite Bible passages while I ran. I often thought of Christ Jesus' statement "I can of mine own self do nothing"^{John 5:30.} and prayed to realized more fully that God's action is ever strong, perfect, and complete.

In college I had many opportunities to learn and express more spiritual inspiration and discipline. Competition, the demand to do my best, required courage. And sportsmanship and leadership required humility and selfless love—felt and expressed. I sometimes felt limited, however. But these limitations diminished as I understood more of divine Mind's control over all thought and action—whether I was in the classroom or on the track.

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