Embracing the Suck
There is an article in a recent issue of Bicycling Magazine that describes the inspiring story of an athlete overcoming incredible obstacles to achieve his dream. This young man is training twenty or more hours a week in his basement on an ill-fitting recumbent bike as a hand-cyclist. He does not have the use of his legs and thus his bicycling power comes only from his hands, arms, and torso. His goal is to be selected to compete for the U.S. in the para-Olympics in 2024. He is not guaranteed success, lacks most of the sponsorship necessary to succeed at that level and continues to make-do with what he can cobble together with the help of his parents. It is a situation that would likely appear futile even for the most optimistic of us.
Yet, Joe Volfman says; “I embrace the suck.”[1] This is a crass way of saying; “I am not going to be defeated by the pain or challenges in front of me but am choosing to embrace those things as part of my experience of life.” There is no mention in the article of this young man’s faith or any transcendent belief system. Yet, his tenacity provides a powerful image of someone refusing to allow negativity to consume them. There is a hope expressed in his life story that surpasses what is normally found, even in those of us who claim to have hope in Christ.
This young man isn’t pretending that things aren’t hard, or even that he wouldn’t rather things were different. But instead of dwelling on desires out of his control he works on those areas in which he has agency. He has connected with a coach to help him prepare training plans, he has dedicated time for the work he needs to put in, he has secured the help of physical trainers to help him make the most of his limited muscles capabilities, and he has created a platform where other cyclists with similar challenges meet and train together, both virtually and in person.
Our tendency is often to wallow in our sufferings, crying out to God to make the way smooth and free of obstacles. But those obstacles often become the catalysts for growth and change. They shape us and become part of the story God is writing in and through our lives. And as Psalm 121 reminds us God remains steadfast even in the midst of the trials.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Often that help comes by way of the support received from our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the reason we share our resources through the church as it is often received as direct evidence of God’s unrelenting concern for others in need and may encourage them to ‘embrace the suck’ knowing that they are not alone in their suffering. Be encouraged to ‘embrace the suck’ and walk with others living in their own challenges.
[1] Shiffer, Emily. “Nothing Can Stop Joe Volfmann.” Bicycling, 2022, pp. 34–39.
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Dan Kreiss, RPC’s Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach, brings with him a heart for service and a diverse array of experiences in the mission field. Be sure to subscribe to the Mission Outreach Blog to read and follow along as he documents his personal journey and shares his vision for RPC’s mission outreach commitment. Along with providing meaningful resources, this blog will help jumpstart the important conversations our church community must be having about missional living.
Dan Kreiss
Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss is the Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach at RPC. Dan is particularly passionate about encouraging the church to reflect the diversity found in its surrounding community in regard to age, gender, ethnicity, education and economic status.