I am both of these definitions:
I hope the world can tell that I am openly and vocally a Christian. I believe in God, the Creator of the universe, me included. Without this "Religion" in my life I would live crushed, dark and miserable all the time. For God is love, light and my savior. I have heard more than one Pastor define the word "Religion" as, to bind or hold to. Like someone would hold on to my wrist and drag me to Heaven. I don't feel that way at all. I feel the freedom of forgiveness.The freedom of love, the freedom to be human every day.
Nordic Skiing: My interest that I chase with supreme importance.
I thought I had left the lifestyle. I thought I had put my heart in raising the family, to being a wife, even a missionary. If I put my head down and lived daily life, survived the grind of life, I could erase the pull Nordic Skiing had on my heart. Once a Nordic always a Nordic, sort of like being an Alcoholic. A lot like being a Christian.
I figured it out the other day. (It has taken me only 40 years to make this discovery!) It is not the go fast, or the technique, (though I love the technique part), or the sweat generated while skiing. It is the pure pleasure of being on the trails. Being one with the snow, the temperature, the sun, the snowflakes, the wind. It is closing my eyes and feeling the trees around me become my family, listening to them talk to me as they squeak in the wind.
"Awesome, Wonderful, Fantastic, Fun!" These are the words out of my daughter's mouth when we ski. Same daughter who cannot put a full sentence together. Who does not need to when out skiing. I brings pure joy to my heart to witness her joy out on the trails.It is life's timing. GOD's timing in my life. I am now a coach. That is my title. It is what the kids call me. Coach Hamann. It is more than a title. More than teaching these young teens how to stand on their skis. It is opening their mind, soul, body, to the Nordic world. I desire for them to yearn for the trails all their lives. To become brothers and sisters with the forest they ski through, to allow the weather to touch them deeply. To reach for the sun on their faces. To feel the spiritual connection between the snow and them. To become a part of something so much greater than they are.
OK, as a coach I want them to ski fast and crush the competition! There is a certain heartfelt joy in this.
The team season is over. I still can't believe I get paid to ski 3 times a week. (With 60 of my best friends each time!)
Just like my quiet time with my bible every day, I need that alone time on the trails.
With that said... I am off for some "Religion" time. Happy Skiing.
