We are a swimming family. All of my boys have been swimmers. Good ones. Garrett, my oldest took state in the 100 breast stroke two years, and placed in other events. Reuben, my second son took 2nd his junior year, and 6th his sophomore year in the 100 breast stroke. Tobler my freshman, took 11th in the 100 and 200 freestyle. They have learned to do really hard things, and love it! They also have made amazing friends. This has actually been my favorite part. Somehow, swimming in our area, draws amazing kids.
One of those amazing kids is a senior this year named David. He was a good friend to my son who graduated last year. They swam together in club and high school swimming for three years. Last year, Garrett was really concerned that David might not qualify for state. He had worked so hard and was so close. He went to state as an alternate his sophomore year, and just as Garrett was concerned, also his junior year. How could someone who worked so hard, swimming twice a day, sometimes for a total of 12,000 yards, not drop time and make it to state?
This year, Reuben and Tobler became really close to David, as Garrett had been. They came home one day talking nervously about David making it to state his senior year. Surely, this year he would make it. He had swam all summer, working really hard. When region came around, David did not drop the time he needed to in both the 200 and 500 free. It didn't help that my freshman son counted wrong for him and he swam an extra lap (the clock stopped at the right time, but he still had to swim and extra lap!). Add insult to injury! We had prayed and hoped that he would drop time, and were devastated that he did not. So, for the third time, he went to state as an alternate.
As parents, we teach our children that with work, they can do anything they want. We tell them that they just have to believe it and set goals. We just know if they sacrifice, they will achieve their goals. What happens when that doesn't work? I stewed over this for a few weeks, until State. As I was sitting watching the events, I related some of this tale to my sister in law, who sings with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the best choir in the world. She gave me hope.
Jen told me that when she was in high school, she tried out every year for the madrigal choir. All of her siblings had sung in that choir and she wanted to do the same. Every year she was rejected. Then, 20 years later, after a rigorous three part tryout process, she was invited to sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This she has done for about seven years now. It has been an amazing experience, which she has shared with all of us in her family. This description really doesn't do it justice. The spirit she has felt, and opportunities she has had over those years with the choir, touring the world, practicing, and performing defy words. "So"..., she said to me, "you don't know the end from the beginning. This is a really hard thing for David, but you don't know what experiences are coming that will eclipse this one. And because of this hard thing, he will appreciate it so much more." If we take one segment of life, one snap shot in isolation, it may look tragic, or unfair. But if we look at life as a whole, we see that God has a compensation program. The trouble is, we can't see the end from the beginning. We must live on faith. So, I look forward to what life has in store for David, knowing it will be great!