Instruction and discipline help achieve greatness

I always wanted to be an Olympic athlete. There was just one problem: Desire never encountered discipline. Reaching the caliber of competition necessary to be a part of the Olympics demands strict discipline.

Each competitor meticulously monitors what they eat. They carefully gauge every aspect of their training regimen in order to apply the best of exercise science available. Most of us struggle to maintain the discipline to not overeat at our favorite all-you-can-eat buffet, let alone the discipline necessary to live at the peak of physical conditioning. While discipline in the physical arena can bring tremendous benefits, the lack of discipline can be the path to destruction.

Proverbs 15:32 reads, "If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding." The writer of this proverb reminds us that the purpose of discipline is to bring about personal growth. The desired outcome of discipline, whether that is in the realm of athletics, academics or spiritual growth, must create external conditions to bring about the internal desires.

One process of discipline is listening. Listening is more than the process of sounds passing through your ears. Listening implies perceiving and hearing. It is taking what is being said, analyzing and processing it for the intention behind the message, for the benefit of the inner person. Listening implies humility and openness, being humble enough to admit being wrong and being open to receive correction.

The best athletes are the ones who have submitted their training to a coach. Being open to others can bring about those breakthrough moments. They can help you to see what you are good at and, even better, what you are great at. By being open to correction you can see who you were created to be.

The human body possesses tremendous adaptive abilities. Muscles that remain unused will atrophy. The body will adjust and adapt to training practices unless a discipline of change is applied. No man is an island. To attempt to live in isolation without any input brings about destruction.

Rob Hurtgen is a husband, father and serves as the associate pastor at the First Baptist Church in Jackson.