God's Coaching #28

God's Coaching #28

The high-flying tricks of the Winter X Games snowmobile freestyle competition take years to master. Without the proper training and practice, a rider could easily end up with a broken bone—or in a wheelchair. Even the names of the tricks sound dangerous. Who’s up for trying a “superman flip,” “backflip no-hander,” or “kiss-of-death”? When you’re riding a 500-pound snowmobile and jumping over 100-foot gaps, you want to know what you’re doing.

Yet Texas native Caleb Moore had only ridden a snowmobile for about a month when he went out and claimed the bronze medal in snowmobile freestyle at the 2010 Winter X Games. And, yes, there were more than three riders in the competition. In fact, 12 of the best riders in the world converged in Aspen, Colorado, for the event. Justin Hoyer won the gold, beating out the 2009 champ, Joe Parsons. Caleb shocked everybody by earning the bronze medal after practicing for just 33 days.

What’s the Score?

Although Caleb was new to riding a snowmobile, he was no stranger to extreme sports. He and his brother Colten were experienced ATV riders. A friend of theirs, veteran snowmobile freestyler Sam Rogers, told the brothers to try snowmobiling. They did.

First, they jumped on fake snow into a pit near their home in Krum, Texas. Then they drove up to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to train at Evolution Sled Park. The brothers took to the sport like a polar bear to a snow cone. In just over a month, they were ready to compete against the world’s best.

But the truth is, if Sam had never encouraged the Moore brothers to try the sport, their toes may have never touched the snow. Sometimes all it takes is an encouraging word to change a person’s life. God wants us to encourage each other. First Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to “encourage each other and build each other up.” Who knows? Maybe your words will inspire somebody close to you to become a champion.

On the Ball

Do you have a friend with a lot of talent who’s not doing the most she can with it? Maybe you can see an ability in a friend that he hasn’t discovered yet. Write down one friend you want to encourage to try something new: __________________________________________.

Be an encourager in your friends’ lives.

Coach’s Comment

Encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11