On spirituality and sports

“As I see it, stranger, you’re no good at sports like a real man. You remind me of a master peddling sailor, one who trades from port to port with thoughts for nothing but cargoes and loads and especially profits. You’re no athlete.”

This famous passage from Homer’s The Odyssey is one of the oldest written accounts of athletics in world history. It’s the verbal barbs from Euryalos, taunting Odysseus, that he’s someone who just cares for the ‘finer things’ in life and not someone after the truly ‘valuable’ things.

Funny how it’s sports that reveal the mark of the man, at least that what Homer’s mythic characters reveal to us. But how are you, sitting here in 2025 to take this 2800 year old wisdom to heart?

What does it mean for you?

I wrote last week about the importance of ‘Heartstance’ over ‘Mindset’ (read it HERE). I want to deepen that idea a bit here, aimed of course directly at sports, physical activity, training, and competition.

When it comes to thinking about sports as an adult, it’s never as an expression of our character. It’s ALWAYS seen as a means to some other end. A utility. A chore. An undue burden.

This is where mindset leads you. The brain loves it’s shortcuts and to find the easy path. When it’s done in the mind first, exercise and sport can only been seen as a utility.

Our lives are busy, our obligations serious to work, family, and community. Why spend precious energy CARING DEEPLY about training and competing. Isn’t that a waste of time?

Maybe, but it’s also a way to strip away meaning, beauty, and passion from any activity. The same people who question your care are the same who care about what other people do. They obsesses over celebrity, they pour over fantasy sports stats, they get lost in the fictional dramas of movies and TV and take THOSE CHARACTERS seriously. But how dare you for caring about your own character rather than playing voyeur to the ‘people who matter?’

How trite, how small, how pathetically weak minded.

When viewed from the spiritual angle, sports take on an entirely different meaning. They become trials of character growth, a willing embrace of struggle, a physical representation of righteous sacrifice, and an outgrowth of your creative passion.

Any adult who tells you this doesn’t matter in your life has a deep conversation ahead with their inner child.

Here’s how to take it all in stride and begin to move in spiritual ways in sports

1.CARE

When did it become cool to not try your best? Seriously. The spirit aims at perfection and demands a high internal standard for its own sake. If others say you shouldn’t bother, just ignore them and pour more of your heart into the endeavor.

2.TRY HARD

Don’t just ‘go through the motions.’ Run through the line with vigor and determination. The ones who ‘just get the minimum amount’ of exercise to satisfy some objective health measure block themselves from growth by submitting to laziness. Sweat hard, go hard, compete with your heart, let the truth of your actions speak for your excellence in process.

3.ENCOURAGE OTHERS

I can’t believe I have to type this, but smile, fist bump, and high five everyone else you see on the journey. It bothers me a lot when I smile at a passing runner and they don’t even look up to meet my eyes. Why so serious bro? It’s not a punishment for a sin you committed at the dinner table last night? You should celebrate yourself and your effort.

Serving and praising others fills up our spirits more than getting stuff and achieving things ourselves.

Broad and general advice like this works well because it fires your imagination to make solutions in your own life’s context. You’re not a cookie cutter outcome. You’re a beautiful individual with a divine spirit

Start moving your body that way.

Let the love pour out from your open heart.

I don’t care anymore what’s on your mind, I want you to show me what’s on your heart!

Happy Training Friends