Have You Ever Seen a 6'5" 250lb Man Roller Skating?

We went roller skating last night. It was "all city club" night for Young Life, so they had it at the Auburn Skate connection. I hadn't been roller skating in about 15 years, so when I found out that's what we were doing, I was a little excited.

When we got to the roller rink, it was like stepping back into time. I think every roller rink in America is probably a bit like this one. Old lockers, old video games, funky carpet, dated decor, and those wonderful brown leather rental skates with the orange wheels that have that distinct smell of 30 years of foot sweat. It was great hearing some Rod Stewart and Michael Jackson music.

My kids had never been skating before. We got them some skates, and laced them up and begrudgingly got them on the floor. Neither one of them wanted to do it. They wanted to have helmets and pads. They were afraid they were going to fall down. They thought they couldn't do it.

My son was the most defiant. He was absolutely convinced that he was going to die out there on the floor. He wanted no part of this roller skating thing. To him- it was the beginning of certain death and end of life as he knew it. He said he was going to sit on the side and just watch.

With a little bit of "coaxing" we got them out there on the floor. Well, technically, we got them to start holding the rail all the way around the floor with their skates on. There was apprehension, some frustration and some falling on the floor, but they made it once around that place in about 5 mins.

It was great watching those two trying something new for the first time. Trying to figure out their balance and how it worked. By the end of the night, my son was skating not holding the wall. It was rather inventive the way he started skating- I've never seen another human do it this way. He was squatted down (he said the closer he was to the floor the less distance he had to fall) and was pushing out with one leg to get him going. He did quite nice with this little technique.

What's the point? Last night I saw two kids try something new for the first time. Initially they were scared and thought they weren't going to be able to do it. By the end of the night, they had drastically improved and were on their way to getting proficient at it.

As I was watching them I couldn't help but think- most people fail because they never try. Or when they do try, if they are not immediately successful, they give up.

The Bible says in Galatians 6:9- Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Sure, that verse isn't about roller skating, but I think the principle still applies, and the principle is this- we receive the best things in life when we don't give up.

Don't give up today. Don't falter. Don't quit. You'll get better. It will get better. You'll be victorious.

Blessings
matt