Sara Hall: In Definition
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #8)
Posted May 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 PM by Sara Hall
Section: News & Results, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Sara Hall
Welcome to the official blog of U.S. middle-distance runner Sara Hall. Sara’s list of running accolades include being a former NCAA All- American at Stanford, the 2006 USA 5K road champion, and the 2006 champion at the Continental Fifth Avenue Mile. Check back every other Friday for her latest entry at http://sarahall.thefinalsprint.com/
Recently I came across some comments on a video of Ryan where people seemed confused as to what he means by “glorifying God”. I don’t normally look at people’s comments because I don’t really like criticism, but for whatever reason I started to read some this day.
Some people were vehemently anti-religion, some people held a strong in-your-face religious stance, and everything in between, debating what Ryan was talking about. It made me realize the ambiguity of this term, “glorifying God”, and so this blog is an attempt to extrapolate on what we mean when we say
we strive to glorify God when we run.
A few days ago, I came across one of my favorite quotes that I feel sums it up well:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us… And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others”.
- Marianne Williamson
Although I don’t agree with everything Marianne Wiliamson stands for, I think that she really gets at the spirit of what we mean when we use this phrase.
“Glorifying God” through running or whatever act is about identifying what God has put in you, the unique gifts he has created you with, and maximizing them to the fullest. It seems prideful to claim you have “gifts” or “glory within you”, but not when you acknowledge that it is a gift and not your own doing. And it’s not about God playing favorites and giving you more of a gift than someone else so you can beat them, that misses the reason that you are using the gift in the first place- not for your own fame, but in gratitude to the Creator from whom they came. Think back to why the Olympics were started- they were basically entertainment and a form of worship to the gods of Olympus. Different God, same idea.
So, why write about this? Why not keep our personal beliefs to ourselves? For one, we want to be real with people about who we are, what drives us, and why we are running. People may not agree, and that’s OK; we never want to come across as if we are forcing our beliefs on people. I’m reading this book right now called Un-Christian, basically about how Christians are perceived in society today, mostly focusing on the negative aspects. One of the chapters I read recently was on how people perceive Christians as always trying to convert them and give different people’s stories of how they were annoyed and offended by this.
It’s a challenge, when reading these examples, to realize that by being labeled a “Christian” you are often put in a box with the same people that are insensitive toward other’s spiritual journey. Because Christians are human, we are going to fail at living out what Jesus has called us to and be hypocritical, judgmental, and miss the heart of Jesus’ message- to love others. And so it is tentatively that I even align myself with that label “Christian” because it comes with such baggage when people hear it.
I love Jesus, I find the Bible to be true and relevant to my life today, and believe Jesus came to earth to show us how life is meant to be lived. Though I often have doubts and struggles in my faith, these three things I can’t escape from. I’m not ashamed to talk about it or write about it in my blogs.
But I hope that by reading it, you understand that while I am sharing my experience, I realize that everyone is coming from different places on this issue. I believe that God shows himself to people in different ways and in His timing, and I don’t feel it’s my duty to convert anyone, but to love them. I am the first to admit that I am far from being able to love as Jesus has called me to, but I hope that through sharing what’s on my heart, that is one step to connecting with others. To love, you have to be able to make yourself vulnerable by letting others see your true self, even if that means being put in a box and stereotyped. My hope is that what I say and what I write is just that.
- Sara
P.S. I’m open to hearing your comments on this blog and will respond to them the best I can.
Check back on Friday, May 16, 2008 for Sara’s latest entry at: http://sarahall.thefinalsprint.com/
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Tags: beliefs, blog, christian, comments, convert, criticism, elite athlete, elite athlete blog, elite athlete blog series, elite runner, faith, glorifying god, god, jesus, Marianne Williamson, mission, olympics, Olympus, religion, Ryan Hall, ryan hall video, sara hall, sara hall blog, tfs elite athlete blog series, the final sprint elite athlete blog series, thefinalsprint.com elite athlete blog series, Un Christian
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The Final Sprint
Sara, Thanks for your clear explanation–my wife and I are going to be in San Diego May 5-8, and I am wondering if you or Ryan will be training there then. Our son, David Roeske, is a 2004 grad of Stanford, and I am a 59 year old runner, aiming for the senior olympics in 2009 in San Francisco in the 1500 and 5k and 10k. All the best to you as you witness for Him!! John and Connie Jo Roeske
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 pmmy e mail is jroeske@juno.com–I should have included it in my previous comment
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 pmSara,
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:39 pmThanks so much for wearing your heart on your sleave. Keep being you.
-Michael
Sara,
I like your perspective here. I am glad that you are the type of Christian that understands that there are other perspectives out there. I respect where your coming from even though I have different religious beliefs.
Love watching you and Ryan run.
Craig
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:25 amSara,
Thank you for your post. I am grateful for the triune Lord’s work in both you and your husband’s life. I pray that you are able to speak boldly and lovingly the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have attached a link to my name as the website that is a review of the “Un-Christian” book you listed. As a seminary student going into full-time ministry, I can identify with many of the problems that you have seen in your blog post. Despite these, the Bible speaks volumes about this issue. This is what the site addresses.
Please review the link below:
http://graceinthetriad.blogspot.com/2008/04/unchristian.html
Thank you for your time!
Darin
God bless you and your running!
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:06 pmVery inspiring entry Sara. As you continue walking the walk, others take notice.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:16 amSara!
Great post. I get upset when I read the comments posted on the youtube videos with Ryan. I completely understand where you two are coming from and I believe that this blog explains your position very well! Keep on, keepin’ on.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:14 pmThanks, Sara, for being true to who you are- who God has called and gifted you to be. To be in a position to have to defend your faith should in a weird kind of way encourage you because we know that as believers the Bible says we will often be misunderstood and/or misjudged. I have also read unchristian and other books like it. The reality in today’s society is that we often have to break down barriers people have about Christianity before nonbelievers will even hear about God’s great love for us. Continue to live authentic and real lives. When we are true to who we are in the Lord, others will, hopefully, over time see the Light within us.
I pray for you and Ryan on a regular basis. Thanks for being good role models and choosing to use your influence to bring issues such as AIDS and poverty to the forefront.
Blessings,
May 5th, 2008 at 2:50 pmSusan Barber
Sara,
As a father of three I am greatly encouraged by your and Ryan’s actions. And by that I mean public display of Christianity (in addition to world class running). I believe that many, many people get what you are saying and are quietly (maybe too much so) thankful for your voices. Please don’t be frustrated … you have touched more people’s lives than you can ever know.
May 5th, 2008 at 5:40 pmI was reading last night and I found something that fit exactly into what Ryan was trying to say. I just thought I’d put this here..
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
May 5th, 2008 at 9:54 pm-Matthew 5:14-16
Sara,
I went to the olympic trials for a few reasons, last fall. One was to see one of the greatest races, I thought, of our time. The other reason was to cheer on my favorites, though I knew none of them personsally. Ryan Hall, Meb K. and Ryan Shay. I felt Hall was to win, and your husband Ryan Hall wasn’t really in the running for top three, yet I just wanted to see him run. I was able to stand in the bleachers at the finish line and hear the comments all around me. The news of Ryan came very soon after the tragity. A solemness fell over all of those around me, almost a unbelief. I still run, though myself an average mid aged runner, with Ryan in my thoughts. I pray for you, and am encouraged whenever I hear you talk about God. God gave us a numbered of days on this earth. He accomplised what he was to. Yet our, or more so, your grief is to be expected. I hope God can comfort you, and give you direction in your life, through this. I wish you the best in your olympic pursuit. I believe Ryan is there with you, and will always be there with you, with his positive, encouragining voice, and belief in you.
God bless you, Sara
and continue to trust in him.
Pat W.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:19 am“…speaking the truth in love, may [we]grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” EPHESIANS 4:15
Sara,
I’m thankful the Lord impressed Darin to link the book review of Un-Christian along with his comments. While agreeing with you Jesus came to earth to show us how life is meant to be lived, it’s clear He did so sinlessly. He calls all sinners, yes, me too, to repentance (MATTHEW 9:13). And He loved each one of us so much He willingly bled, died on the cross, and rose again to make the one narrow path by which we may come to God (JOHN 14:6).
As an imperfect Christian I sometimes speak the truth, but without loving. On other occasions I love, but neglect mentioning God’s truth about sin and Jesus’ offer of forgiveness. But never do our failures erase the facts that “the [paycheck] of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (ROMANS 6:23)
Everyone is made in the image of God(GENESIS 1:27), but contrary to Ms. Williamson’s statement we can only “manifest the glory of God” if His Holy Spirit is living inside us. Jesus tells us this is not automatic (JOHN 14:16,17). We must choose to accept Christ’s payment for our sins in order to receive His Spirit (JOHN 3:16,17).
With due respect to Jason’s verses, I believe you and Ryan are doing your best to fulfill I CORINTHIANS 6:20. When we proclaim Jesus, let’s communicate the complete verse, “For you are BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: therefore GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
God bless you & Ryan. Thanks for considering.
May 6th, 2008 at 5:42 pmYou both do a great job representing yourselves as you represent Christ. You are mature beyond your years- God’s blessings on you and your family.
-Nick
May 7th, 2008 at 8:34 pmSara-Congratulations on all your success and your words of wisdom. I’m curious how someone like yourself deals with the dynamics of having a husband who is also a competitive runner and the competitiveness that arises when one has success and the other doesn’t and vice versa. It is something that I am struggling with myself right now and I’d love to hear how you deal with this or if you have any advice. Thanks so much.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:35 pmI would just like to say thank you for sharing your experience. I too am a christian runner. I know how tough it can be being a christian labeled, and put in a box. It can be really discouraging. I am glad that you express what God has put on your heart. For me, I pray for strength to speak what is on my heart. I let my actions speak for themselves. You don’t necessarily have to say anything at all. Love one as thy neighbor and have that conscious contact with God.
May 8th, 2008 at 4:49 pmThank you for centering yourself with God and carrying out his will for you.
Hi everyone!
May 9th, 2008 at 1:17 amThank you for your encouragement and feedback, even from those who don’t agree 100% with my perspective. It’s great to know that there are people rooting for Ryan and I and praying for us out there!
I wanted to address a few specific comments:
John, I hope you enjoyed your time in San Diego! We were actually gone, I competed in the Cardinal Invitational up at Stanford and then went home to Santa Rosa for a few days to visit my parents. Hopefully you found some of the many beautiful places to run down here!
Pat, I can’t thank you enough for your prayers! That is the greatest gift to be given. When reading your post, I wasn’t sure if maybe you had confused Ryan Shay (Alicia’s husband) with my Ryan (Hall)?
Darin, thanks for sharing your perspective. I read the blog you linked. Thought I don’t agree completely with everything you wrote, I do agree with the part about how many Christian churches today are taking on a corporate-like mentality and emphasize decisionism. However, I have a different perspective on how Jesus calls us to relate to to world around us. When I look at how Jesus interacted with people around him, it wasn’t with the same attitude as your blog is written. When you write, “Nevertheless, if you’re around a true believer long enough, we will come after you with the gospel and eventually God is either going to save you or you’re going to reject the gospel and eventually us and then blame us for your rejection of Jesus” I don’t think that is the attitude Jesus intended when he gave the Great Commission. He wasn’t “sicking the dogs on them”, but telling them to go out, be in the world, and live in the way Jesus had shown them, a way that was countercultural and transformational, and sharing the good news of Him. In word and deed. Yes, rejection is inevitable any time you take a stance on anything, Jesus experienced quite a bit and we should too. But it wasn’t because he “came after them” and gave people an ultimatum. Somehow, Jesus found a way for even the most detested people in society to feel comfortable in His presence. Take Jesus’ interaction with the woman at the well (John 4)- he didn’t shy away from confrontation, but she also didn’t feel rejected as a result of it, but loved. When you say, “don’t be surprised if you feel ‘rejected’ “, I disagree- the gospel is an invitation, not an ultimatum. More often the people Jesus made feel guilty or rejected were the religious leaders who were hypocrites, not those whose lifestyle choices were considered sinful. Instead of feeling rejected, this woman saw a difference in Him and wanted that. She was attracted to his love, not to him preaching judgment. And it wasn’t with an agenda- he didn’t befriend people so that he could bait them and then preach to them. He genuinely loved them. Sure, it hurt him if they rejected him, but regardless he continued to love them. This love is what is going to transform the world because it is so revolutionarily countercultural. And it’s the greatest challenge and hardest thing we will ever attempt. That is my perspective. Wow, that was almost the length of another blog! Back to training…
Sara, So well said that I am going to print your reply. Thank you for explaining the Gospel so succinctly (tho you commented on the length of your response, it all needed to be said) without sounding defensive. If more Christians would live it out this way, we wouldn’t find ourselves having to defend our faith at every turn. Stay healthy & run strong. You go girl!,Kevin
May 9th, 2008 at 8:23 amI think that most runners who are true Christians will understand exactly what you mean by glorifying God through your running. Just keep doing what you and Ryan are doing. You both are so inspirational even to a 50 year old Christian runner like myself here in Utah, who has to put up with a few who won’t believe we are, in fact, Christians. Keep it up!
May 9th, 2008 at 11:32 pmYou and Ryan inspire me more than you know, both as a christian and a runner. Colossians 3:23 says “In whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for men,” or something close to that. You guys are doing that with your running and that’s really cool. By the way, I at the bottom of your response there it said that you were up at 1:17 AM! Shouldn’t you be resting up for a workout in the morning or something?
May 10th, 2008 at 7:39 pmHi Brian,
TheFinalSprint.com is based in NYC, so the times under comments to indicate when they were submitted are automatically listed as EST. Therefore, it was only 10:17pm PST for Sara out in California.
Thanks again for supporting Sara & Ryan and for visiting TheFinalSprint.com.
Take care,
Adam
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May 10th, 2008 at 7:51 pmAdam S. Jacobs
Editor-in-Chief
TheFinalSprint.com