May 16, 2017
In just twenty-four days I will be playing in a Qualifying tournament for the Women’s U.S. Open. Most likely, I will be the oldest one in the field, and the player with the least amount of play time to prepare. However, the Holy Spirit led me to enter, so I am connected to a secret power from on high! He is my confidence. At the same time, I MUST prepare to the extent I am able, as I have entered a quest to play in a national championship. “What is the best way for me to train and be ready with the limited amount of time I have?” I ask myself this question on a daily basis.
When you are entering a championship, you cannot think incrementally. You have to think, “How can I best run my race to WIN?” That doesn’t necessarily mean score, but process. In other words, “How can I fully engage my heart in the process of preparing for the championship—and leave the results to God for the outcome?” It’s about the training, calling myself up higher, and becoming something and someone I would not have reached had I not entered the championship.
I know that it will be a grueling day of 36 holes of golf from the longest tees on the course. The heat will be high here in Florida. One of the ways I can prepare is to put myself in the atmosphere of high heat now. I decided going to hot yoga classes would be a great way to work on my endurance, make heat my friend, maximize my time, and get some great work in on flexibility, endurance, stamina, strength, balance, and an increased range of motion. There is nothing better.
I found a place only five minutes from where I am staying here in Florida. To my pleasant surprise, the instructor is not only a master teacher, but nurse. That means that she is grounded in the knowledge of physiology as well as movement. We struck up an instant friendship as I told her my aim. I also told her my move in my swing that needed fixed.
She surprised me in the last class when she said, “Veronica, we’ve been thinking about you. Here’s where I think your problem is with your swing from a muscular standpoint. Your deltoids and upper back on your right side is weak and needs opened up. Please know we see you, now know you, and will help you.” Wow! After putting us through a grueling but doable exercise routine, I felt my entire frame re-adjusted. I even felt different walking down the fairway yesterday with my shoulders more opened, facing upwards and backwards, as opposed to forward—and strong. I felt like a champion walking down the fairway! She truly did let her light shine towards me with all her personal attention and knowledge. I was so appreciative of her expertise, as her approach was not weird and spooky, but practically grounded in the wisdom of sound physiology and movement.
I wondered when I would get a chance to shine my light in return. It came this morning as I told her about the results of her training in my body and swing. We spoke about the importance of alignment. I told her that is my approach in my performance and life coaching practice. “I have a specific process that puts people into alignment spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. It doesn’t matter their goal is. The process of whole person alignment always leads to breakthrough. The system puts people into transformation naturally—and most often in an accelerated fashion with extraordinary results.”
“Now you got the Budda thing going on,” she said. I knew she was referring to the process of transforming lives. However, now I needed to let my light shine. “Well, actually it’s not Budda. It’s Jesus Christ.” “It’s all the same thing,” she replied. “Jesus is not Budda. Budda didn’t die on a cross for my sins.” “It’s all energy,” she responded. “I believe that ultimate reality is not an energy force or a philosophy. It’s a person—the person of Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life.” She continued from her vantage point: “I can see the light in your eyes. There are a lot of people here with that light.” “That light is the light of Jesus Christ,” I said, looking at her with love in my eyes.
At that point, she had to attend to another student. I walked out of the studio glad to have released my voice of spiritual leadership, having engaged my culture. I believe true Christianity is not just a matter of praying your prayers and having intimacy with God. It is a matter of both intimacy and letting my light shine as I intentionally and openly engage with the culture. I know there are a lot of believers who would separate themselves from what they would consider to be darkness. Light is light. I never allow the system of the world to influence me negatively. I am committed to influencing my culture. Why? Because of WHO I AM. I am the light of the world! That is WHO Jesus calls us to be. I do not shine my light out of duty or responsibility. I share it out of IDENTITY.
When you know who you are, you are FREE to speak, to change any atmosphere you are in, because you OWN the spiritual atmosphere if you are a believer and have the Holy Spirit in you.
The Son of Man came eating and drinking with others, and they say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by what she does (her deeds) and by her children.” (Matthew 11:19)
Don’t isolate yourself from darkness in the culture. Penetrate it with your light. Know who you are. The Kingdom of God is within you. You take it everywhere you go, from the first tee to the exercise mat to the boardroom to the grocery store.
“This little light of mine…I’m goina’ let it shine…” I am hopeful, should God anoint me on that day, I will let it shine all the way to the U.S. Open.
If not, I am now strong, free, and ready to slay some giants because of an intentional pursuit to call myself up higher.
Join me. The air is rare up here.