I don't do many comps as a climber. Usually I do 2 a year, the Teva Games in June and the Extremity Games in July. This year, since the Extremity Games have changed formats and no longer have a comp for advanced climbers as they call it, I figured I would go to Teva. My lackluster training for the event, which amounted to climbing outside alot and going to a wedding the night before, didn't really pay off. Go figure... I placed 2nd in my division last year, and 3rd the year before, I just wanted to make the podium at the event since the field of climbers is not only good, its deep with talent. I drove up early the day of the comp, mistake 1, with no food other then gorp Cyn had packed me, mistake 2, and then had to sit in the hot sun for 3 hours waiting for my wave to start. Mistake 3.... As soon as I pulled onto the first hold, I knew I was in trouble, the route setters there do not mess around, that means the routes are hard and the wall is high. I got tired fast, and by the time I was on my 4th problem, I was feeling less then motivated. I climbed the two hours with friends from home, and made it up some harder routes, but none of the ones I needed to place me in the top 3. I left in fourth place and a bit mad at myself for not taking it seriously enough. The 3 hour ride home solidified the idea that I would train like I was supposed to for next year and get back on the podium. That was all fine and good until this morning when I was driving listening to the radio. They were talking about God and the works He is doing in us, and that He will finish that work. Hmmm, nothing about me doing that, only God. I think I needed to place 4th to wake me up a bit to the fact that it's not at all what I should be focused on for the next year. That getting to the podium, although great, really won't matter except to me. I know this because I have been on the podium enough times to see what happens after you leave the podium. People don't care, or remember. They do however remember the kind of person I am, and I hope that person I show them is a caring Christ like person. Not a person whose sole focus is winning. Yes, I would be a lier to say I don't care, Im very competitive, but Im learning to let God do His work in me and not always try to force what I think I should be doing all the time. I also fail at this EVERY day. But Im learning.... The highlight for me was meeting the two little boys who wanted to look at my robot leg. That's the person I want to be, who stops and shares the good news to little people who are curious, because I hope the light that comes from my God guiding me, shines on them a bit while we talk. They never asked me if I made the podium, only why it was that I had a robot leg and no one else did. I don't think they even know the podium exists, and maybe that's how I should be. Peace, c