WRITTEN BY DR. JIM GRASSI
In 1926 Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle completed the twenty-one-mile swim across the English Channel. At age twenty, she became the first woman and youngest person to accomplish this difficult task. Only five others had succeeded before her. The English Channel is one of the world’s harshest swimming environments. She faced bitterly cold water, strong currents, stinging jellyfish, occasional sharks, waves that could crest over twenty feet high – and the overwhelming skepticism that it was a ridiculous attempt for a woman. To make matters worse, this was her second attempt.
The previous year, Trudy’s coach had pulled her out of the water just six miles from victory. The combination of many doubting spectators, a key sponsor’s withdrawal, and her decision to abandon the popular breaststroke for the new Australian crawl made the second attempt all the more challenging. Still, Trudy Ederle climbed into the early morning waters – and fourteen hours and thirty-one minutes later, she broke the previous record by nearly two hours!
Many factors went into why Trudy’s second attempt was successful; however, a huge difference was her coach. Her first coach had attempted and failed the swim twenty times, and when he thought she had swallowed too much saltwater, he decided Trudy could not continue. The moment he touched her to pull her out of the water, she was disqualified. Her coach for the second attempt was one of the five who had successfully swum the channel, and the two established an important understanding: No one could pull her out unless she agreed.
When we choose a coach to mentor us in our spiritual life, we too should select someone who has personally experienced the things we need to learn. We need a spiritual mentor who:
- Encourages us: Someone who will not just hope we do well but will expect success, reminding us that with God all things are possible.
“But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible'” (Matthew 19:26).
- Holds us accountable: Someone who will call us out if needed, speaking the truth of God’s Word and spurring us on towards righteousness.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:23-24).
- Pushes us: Someone who reminds us of our goals and commitments and urges us to persevere through the difficulties of life, like Paul.
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
In the end, the legacy we leave behind will not be marked by how well we started but by how well we finished this life. Choosing a coach with the right stuff can help us finish strong.
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 4:7
Personal Application: When has a coach helped you succeed? How could a spiritual coach help you hold fast to your commitments and goals? Make a list of the areas in life where you could benefit from a spiritual mentor and ask God to lead you to that person. If you are a mature Christian, consider investing in someone who could benefit from your experience and wisdom.
- Taken in part from Finishing Well, Finishing Strong by Jim Grassi, D. Min
Jim Grassi, D. Min.
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5