Encouragement and the Gold Medalist

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Today’s Blog Post

Encouragement and the Gold Medalist

It was the recent Olympic TV Broadcast from Vancouver that made me sit up and look more closely at “encouragement”.

The Cross Country Skiers with the Guns on their back were zooming down a hill then immediately struggling with effort that was way above what ordinary men or women could do to make it up the next rise.

It was at that moment that some guy appeared and began screaming at one Skier and running beside him. It appeared that this screamer was his coach of some kind.

The Skier was at the about the 13.8 km mark of his 15 km race. He was about to win a Gold Olympic Medal for his country – BUT – the exhaustion that was taking over and with every muscle in his body wanting to quit… he was almost dead with fatigue.

The words of the coach seemed to be just enough to make the difference and away the man went one more time until he had the new momentum to break loose of the pack coming behind him – AND CLIMB THAT HILL to the finish line.

The words delivered at that crucial place on the mountain were aimed at the Skier’s Heart – not Ears. His Ears picked it up but his Heart heard it.

The word encouragement’s definition states:
Definition:
[noun] the expression of approval and support
[noun] the act of giving hope or support to someone
Synonyms: boost
[noun] the feeling of being encouraged

But take a look closer… there it is tucked in the centre of encouragement is the original word “cour” which comes from the French word “Coeur” or “heart”.

When some one shouts “Encouragement” they are shouting at the heart of another!

I look back at the scene on the Vancouver Olympic mountain… and at that 13.8 km mark. The coach climbed that mountain on foot – not skies - to position himself beside the trail to be there at that exact moment – TO TALK TO HIS ATHLETE’S HEART. And because of it his athlete won a Gold Medal.

In years to come the athlete will be remembered and celebrated as an Olympian Gold Medalist. No one will be able to take that moment away.

But what about the coach that delivered the vital words to the Olympian’s heart that day – at that moment? He couldn’t even be there at the finish line to see his athlete cross into his glory. He was still back on the mountain and looking for away down – on foot no less!

No one will remember the Coach’s name. The Coach never gets a Gold Medal to hang around his neck. He will get another athlete that will literally have to start at the beginning.

Every occupation, every activity, every participant needs someone that will speak to the heart of the one “doing it”.

After speaking one day to a large crowd that didn’t seem to be totally interested in what was being said, a small lady approached me and took my hand. She said, “What you said today was wonderful. You helped me see why the events in my life affected me the way that they did. Thank you. Don’t ever stop doing what you are doing!”

I smiled at her as best I could.

My heart was discouraged with the events that were taking place around me. I wanted to die that moment. People were hating me and letting me know all week long that I was less than desirable… that I was worthless… that some even wished that I would die!

No one ever said any of those words but when people are angry – you feel it. Their crossed arms and shaking heads to let you know what their words “might be”.

This little lady had spoken to my heart and boosted me one more time so that I would take that next problem in my stride and move on.

Unfortunately in some of my friend's lives there has not been that one at the 13.8 km mark that has been there to cheer his heart on. They quit. Walking away was easier than facing the mob… or the horror of the heart that simply has had enough.

What a different world it would be if people wanted more of the coach’s role – rather than the athlete’s… and the Gold Medal of being number one.

Today I am about to call someone and make sure that they have their heart spoken too. I might even shout some words of encouragement.

Finally I have learned one valuable lesson. You can never give all the encouragement that you have away. And when you are discouraged.. the best way to get encouragement back is shout it out to someone else!

(Winston and Terry – I believe in you two. Go for it! Get off your butts and go for it! The hill ahead is a big one… but I know you can do it!!!!)

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/