Priorities

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Finally made it home from Seattle safe and sound.  There’s no feeling quite as good as being home after a long trip.

I wanted to take tonight to relay some perspective that I received while at camp this past weekend.  One of the campers and I had an awesome conversation about priorities and the desire for training combined with other slightly more important priorities.  The struggle is how to balance God-given talent and desire with the responsibility and joy of life’s other tasks.  Your occupation, family, kids, etc all are God-given blessings and gifts to be thankful for.  Talking with this camper was a good reality check for me that more often than not training should take the backseat.  My wife and (God-willing) my kids should come first.  If this cuts into my training time THEN PRAISE GOD that I have that problem as many don’t or can’t experience that struggle.  Growing and flourishing a healthy marriage the models Christ trumps my training.  Raising and discipling little men and women in the Lord trumps training.  Providing for and caring for my family by working hard trumps training.

None of that is to say that training is not important.  God desires for us to take care of our body and tells us it is a temple.  (1 Cor 19-20)  God wants us to be healthy.  He created us healthy and in His image.  However, there is a list of priorities and a line that must be drawn.  I am all about being REALLY REALLY good at what you put your mind to and REALLY REALLY good at your chosen sport.  Don’t hear that I am not trying with all I have to be good at weightlifting BUT I desire more to be REALLY REALLY good at being a husband, business owner, and one day a father.

Don’t let the season and the environment mix up your priorities.  Keep training important but in its place.

5 responses to “Priorities

  1. Always need this reminder – I struggle with balance constantly. Thanks for sharing. It was good to meet you this past weekend in Seattle. Yes, it was/is obvious you are truly living for His glory. That is ultimately my hope as I train, compete, coach, etc.- that others will see Christ through me. Wish you were living out here so you can be a mentor for my son, Daniel…:)

  2. Spencer, thank you for this message as i too need this reminder from time to time. Really hits home with the little one right around the corner and competition season upon us. Learned immensely from you and your team in Dallas and have all ready seen improvement in my day to day workouts. Thank you Spencer and best of luck to you and “Deep” in all your future endeavors.

  3. Spencer, thanks for the post. I started crossfit three years ago because I was going to be father for the first time at 43 years old and wanted to be an example for and participate in my sons life as he grew (and I grew older). I have become so enthralled with crossfit that I sometimes forget why I started doing it in the first place.

  4. Spencer. Excellent post. Like the posters that preceded me, this one hits very close to home. Currently in grad school and I have a son that could be born literally any day now. I still train but know that there are other things far too valuable to put in second place in my lfe. Liek you saiid praise God that I get to be a husband and a dad.

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