“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10
“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy”
Psalm 96:11-12
I have been given the luxury this week between Outlaw camps to be at home where I grew up in Northeast Georgia. I often forget why my heart finds such peace and rest here until I am able to come back for a couple days. There is a stillness and a quietness that exudes from this place like nowhere else on earth for me. I spent the day breathing deep, enjoying a little time free of chaos, and remembering that stillness and simplicity is a necessity in a life filled with busyness. The Lord meets me in places like this where distractions are few and time is abundant.
The same is true of how I approach the lifts. Oftentimes we make the snatch and clean and jerk for more complex and chaotic than they need be. Are the lifts some of the most complex movements in all of sports? Absolutely. However, trying to teach, learn, and perform them with all their technicalities in mind will lead to failure and mental paralysis. We, as coaches and athletes, can often make the lifts too complicated when what’s best is for them to be simplified. Too many coaching cues and too much teaching can often hinder an athlete by creating chaos in their mind as they approach the bar.
I see this truth in life as well. Often we fill our lives with busyness and chaos to our detriment. While we feel like we are working harder and accomplishing more, we may actually just be spinning our wheels. This week is a good reminder that life doesn’t have to be busy to be full and life doesn’t have to be full-speed ahead to be productive. Rest, stillness, and quiet are often some of the greatest catalysts for a full, productive life.
