For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (James 1:3)

Some 25 years ago, I had the great pleasure of working with a group of young boys who had just entered junior high school. Each of these 11-12 year-olds already had their very own unique personality that ranged from “flaky” to downright irritating. For some reason, they all decided to go out for the cross-country team. Several of them had older brothers already on the team. Some just wanted to do stuff with their friends. Anyway, for whatever reason, they all showed up. Little did I (or they) know how much they would accomplish over the next 6 years. By the time they had finished, they had amassed a 71-10 dual meet record (including 51 consecutive wins), 5 League Championships, 5 Invitational Championships, 4 District Championships, 2 State titles and 1 State Runner-up. In the process, they grew up to become good students, great athletes and some of the finest young men I have ever known. Throughout the years, we built on our strengths and strengthened our weaknesses and we did it through hard work as a team. The State Runner-up finish came the year after the 2 State titles. It was a great disappointment to all of us. Somehow I had managed to take a 2-time State Championship team and turn them into a 2^nd best team. This last cross-country race probably was the most important one of their (and my) careers. And we lost. Yet, I think all of us grew through the experience. We all learned to take nothing for granted and that no matter how hard we worked or how talented we might be, there was always someone else waiting in the wings and working just as hard or harder to take over. The Olympics in Rio have shown that time and time again. Sometimes the veterans amaze with their longevity and their ability to maintain that competitive edge. Other times, the new, unknown and untested rise to the occasion to capture medals. I no longer am involved with running or coaching, but I have great memories to remind me of those years. One of my most cherished running-related items is a sweatshirt given to me by that particular group of athletes at the end of our last season together. On it was written, “Test your faith daily.” Regardless of those records and years of competing together, that sweatshirt summed up our success and left me feeling maybe I had really accomplished something lasting. They recognized that no matter what we try to accomplish in life, it’s always about “testing your faith daily,” rejoicing in your successes, and learning from your mistakes. I still have that sweatshirt today as a reminder.