“For if we remain in His love, He comes to dwell in us, and our life will become a temple of God. His love enlightens us, influences the way we think and act, spreads outwards to others, and embraces every situation in our lives.”
– Pope Leo XIV
If someone were to go through my dresser drawers, they’d quickly conclude that I must have attended the University of Iowa. They would be wrong. That’s because, for as long as I can remember, my older sister Lisa has either talked about playing, played, or coached field hockey for Iowa.
So when we heard that Lisa would be inducted into the very prestigious Iowa Hall of Fame this fall, our entire family was sure to be there in full force. Lisa was inducted alongside several other elite athletes from various generations of Hawkeye athletics, and throughout the weekend, we got to learn more about each of them and their journeys.
As I listened to my sister field questions on panels and sign autographs for aspiring future Hawkeyes, I was struck by the fact that while her impressive stats easily warranted her induction, they had nothing to do with why she believed she arrived there. She and her fellow inductees spoke consistently about the coaches who mentored them, the families that supported them, and the gift it was to understand themselves as part of something larger. In turn, those who celebrated them spoke not of how they played, but really, how they lived and how they loved.
As we all sat around a long table in Iowa City and toasted our famous sister, I couldn’t help but wonder: am I chasing stats that show I’m winning, or am I focused on achieving a state of being? Success might earn me a special place at my Alma Mater, but how I get there, how I live and love along the way, who I follow and who I pour into, will hopefully be the path to the most important place into which I hope to be welcomed.
As we begin this week, let’s be sure to thank God for the people whom we consider to be in our own “Hall of Fame” and strive to compete in a way that brings all the glory and praise to Him.
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