4/10. You'll get some bites but this has been done time and time before.
4/10. You'll get some bites but this has been done time and time before.
It's annoying wrote:
They phrase it that way. Things like "God gives us all gifts and he gave you running", "you should be thankful (to God) for your gift" etc. As if I run because God intended me to.
OK so if I quit running competitively, which I will 3 years from now, then what? Plenty of gifted runners who don't run. Did they scorn God when they mad that decision, ineffectual as it is?
What if someone put a gun to your head, would you admit god gave you a gift then?
Usually the best response is to just say, "I'm blessed."
I was never fast enough for anyone to call my running a "gift." If I had been, I'm pretty sure I'd have enjoyed hearing it. I suspect most runners would love to have your "problem." Be glad you're that fast, thank whoever says you have a gift and end the conversation quickly. If the "God" part bothers you maybe you should not be at religious school.
This idea of natural ability, a gift, genetics.. call it what you will comes up on here all the time.
Go read the biographies of 100 Olympic level runners. You'll see a pattern, most saw success in the sport very early. That's no accident.
Life is a gift.
Life is a fantasy
Where "gift" is seen, replace with the expression "have the ability to do well at some activity that society places some value on."
So, "gifted at running" => "have the ability to do well at running." Unfortunately, it's not that valued by society, as evidenced by lack of fan base and monetary rewards. Thus, my first definition has broken down. So, let me take another stab at it.
Where "gift" is seen, replace with the expression "have the ability to do well at some activity that I value doing well at."
So, "gifted at running" => "you can run faster than me because you have no life and spend all your time running. I, on the other hand, have a harem of ladies to please, leaving me very little time to run."
MyCat wrote:
This idea of natural ability, a gift, genetics.. call it what you will comes up on here all the time.
Go read the biographies of 100 Olympic level runners. You'll see a pattern, most saw success in the sport very early. That's no accident.
Well it's a bit of a genetic accident.
PTlife wrote:
Life is a gift.
... and, quite frankly, a miracle. OP, many people can't even walk, let alone, run. Enjoy your "gift," in every sense of the word, be grateful, and don't overthink it.
You missed my sarcasm. I'm aware you might think what I say makes no sense. My point to the OP was that many Christians/people will say things not fully thought out. People may even viscously argue in a way that attempts to build themselves up and put the other down...On an opinion it's hard to %100 know. I'd say we're often more concerned in ranking ourselves above one another and feeling superior than what is really correct. It's like we want to be God having all the answers and feeling in control. But you or I dont know anybody like that. :).
I'm sorry to break this to you bud, but given your description, you're not a "Christian". Believing in "God", even if that belief is specific to the "God" of Judeo-Christian tradition, does not make you Christian. All it means is that you have a choice to make.
Or as the apostle James put it, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder." James 2:19 (NIV)
Wow. OP is obviously a pre hater and therefor actually hates running and America.
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."
- Steve Prefontaine
You are f u c k ing retarded as f uck.
Get over yourself. In the words of Steve MF Prefontaine:
"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice THE GIFT."
/EoT
It's annoying wrote:
I'm Christian in the "don't go to church, but if someone put a gun to my head and asked, I'd say yes I'm Christian" sort of way. Try to be a good person. Nice to strangers.
I go to a Catholic university and constantly hear from people inside and outside this environment that I'm lucky to be gifted (by God or fate or whatever they think) at running, and I have a lot of problems with this rather annoying and cheesy line of thought.
1. I don't run for God. Never claimed to. I also don't run for personal glory. I run because I really, really like racing and the atmosphere is awesome on a cc/track team.
2.God is not directly involved in the outcome of a race. I can't pray .01 seconds off my time. The track is just as long for the kids with cross necklaces.
3. You can walk, therefore you were given the same gift as me. Just because you don't choose to use it like I do (and that's not a bad thing) doesn't mean I was given something you weren't. It's not a cake walk to run 1:55 800s, I worked for that. Which brings me to my next point.
4. Relatively speaking, I'm not that "gifted" if "gifted" means talented. I'm injury prone, and far slower than MANY of my peers. Am I slower or faster than the kids with the same levels of talent? I have no way of knowing.
5. Cosmically it doesn't matter if I'm slow or fast. Does it please God more to run a 1:54 than a 1:55? I really hope not. Running is a-religous. No one's God demands a conference title in the mile. Race results are irrelevant to God.
Like you OP, I get quite disturbed when people refer to my running as a gift. I sternly correct them saying: "It's NOT a gift; it's a present. Try to keep up."
It's annoying wrote:
I go to a Catholic university and constantly hear from people inside and outside this environment that I'm lucky to be gifted (by God or fate or whatever they think) at running, and I have a lot of problems with this rather annoying and cheesy line of thought.
Yes, you have a lot of problems if you become annoyed so easily. Perhaps you should look into Buddhism.
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast!
And when I run I feel his pleasure.â€
― Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire