I asked one of the people I saw on bikes what sort of competition there was that day.  He mentioned that it was the Castle Hanauma Bicycle Time Trials (a 12 mile time trials bike ride around the eastern coast of the island of Oahu in the Hawaiian islands).  I thought to myself, "Wow!  That's a pretty scenic but difficult bike ride.  I am impressed that so many people came out to participate."  As I continued to walk my dog, I saw many bike riders who had on all their gear - helmets, jerseys, shoes, and (of course) bikes and were tinkering with many things.  Quite a few were warming up by riding around the neighborhood.  Many were riding on something called a "trainer" which allows the back tire to keep spinning while the bike goes nowhere, sort of like a personal mini-treadmill for warming up cyclists.  I actually saw quite a few of these.  It made me think, I could use one of these if I really didn't want to ride anywhere.  As I saw many people lined up riding on these trainers, it made me think, "Wouldn't it be a bit ridiculous if all these people came out here early on a windswept, rainy Sunday morning - in full gear, just to ride on their trainers and not actually compete in the adventurous bike race?"  The more "trainers" I saw, the more preposterous it seemed to me that anyone would do anything like that.  

I doubt that any of those people that I saw that morning were there - all dressed up with their bikes and their "trainers" - just to ride on their trainers where they were at and not ride in the race.  And yet, it made me think of a conference that I am going to this weekend where I will hear from some of the best communicators in the world at a Christian conference called "HIM - Hawaiian Islands Ministries"  It is a yearly conference that is led by the pastor of my church and his wife.  Folks from all over the Hawaiian islands and beyond come to learn, (some) to teach, to encourage and to be encouraged,  and to start or renew acquaintances.  It is very exciting, and I plan to do my share of learning, volunteering to help, meeting new people, and renewing old acquaintances.  But wouldn't it be so sad if all these people come together (in the name of God no less) for the purpose of going out into the world and making a positive difference in life...and yet, maybe they never get out into the world and maybe they never make any positive impact in life.  To me, that is so like a bicyclist getting all geared up, spiffied up, hyped up, warmed up for a race - but just keeps riding on their "trainer"  

I believe that we were made to live life to the fullest!  Not just watch sports (which I also happen to love to do), but to actively engage in sports...and life.  Though there are times that both sports and life are something to sit back and watch, maybe reflect on; I can't comprehend that the totality of sports ... and life are meant to be fully passive.  I believe that sports ... and life, were meant to be participatory - whether you do it as competition or recreation.

So if you have opportunity to get yourself ready for sports ... and life, through conferences, expos, etc....get yourself ready...engross yourself in the opportunities for preparation...and just make sure to go out and full-on dive yourself into sport and immerse yourself into life!