Today I stepped on the ice. I haven’t skated in over four months. I made excuse after excuse not to go. “I’m too busy,” or, “I don’t have the energy.” Every moment not on the ice was a moment wasted. My heart is at the rink. I love the smell of a rink, the feel of taking those first strokes on the ice carry me to another place, a place of freedom. On the ice, I have no responsibilities. My primary task is to remain vertical, the rest matters not.
We all need our space that provides sanctuary. There needs to be a place that lets us soar with the wings of eagles. For me, it is the ice. One would think that I skated all of my life, but that’s another story. I should have been allowed to skate, but instead, I was forced to play sports for which I had very little enjoyment.
The irony is, I am an athlete. I just didn’t participate in the right sport. I had to play football and baseball. These endeavors were not to my liking. I prayed that I could leave the field unscathed and simply talk with my friends. I always thought that something had to be wrong with me. I found no joy in these things.
Discovering skating provided me the opportunity to shine in a sport that matched my heart with physical expression and joy. I found a home when I stepped on the ice. I would never be able to train for the Olympics, but who cares? I could train to be the best that I could be. My commitment to the process is the center of my joy.
Today, I am grateful for the reminder of where I find joy, for it is where I continue to mark the spot and keep returning. I leave the ice with a new found confidence, ready to tackle any obstacle in my way. My space is a frozen patch of land that invites me to create and connect with my deepest inner self. Praise be to our God, who continues to lead us to a place that connects us to our passions.
From a Pastor's Point of View 