Recently I drove down to Chula Vista to spend time with Tyler Brown. Tyler has been coming to Symbolic since we first started some time ago. We have tracked with him through his professional BMX career and have grown to be good friends. As I am writing this Tyler is currently on a plane bound for South Korea where he and other professional riders are racing and doing clinics.
In recent months Tyler has moved to the USA Olympic Training Center in order to get himself poised to be on the London 2012 USA Mens BMX Olympic Team. I arrived on a super hot day last week and Tyler met me at the main center with two BMX bikes. I got nervous when I realized I was going to ride a bike around with a pro BMX guy and try not to make him look bad. I think I did OK, at least I think I did. Through the day we talked and rode around and met different people there training for specific Olympic sports. It felt so inspiring to see all the athletes training as the TOP professionals in the world to represent our nation at the largest international sporting event the world offers. And then to realize one of our Symbolic family members was on that path. BOOYA!
One of our stops while driving around was the track that Tyler trains on. Now from a distance it looks intense for sure. And I saw him race on it a couple of years ago. But with no spotlights and fans surrounding every visible corner, I had the chance to actually walk the track. That’s when I realized that I could NEVER ride something like that. Tyler brought me to different vantage points where he would be riding full speed and hitting 40+ foot distance jumps landing into totally vertical wall turns and many times jumping blind. Its crazy. Here is a short clip of him riding this track at time trials last year -
Tyler Brown from Matthew Whitlock on Vimeo.
After my tour Tyler took me to where the athletes eat and we grabbed some healthy lunch. While at lunch Tyler started to describe to me what it took to train. The team Tyler has behind him is amazing. They work out his physical body, his riding/racing techniques and his MENTAL abilities. What a great idea to have a sports psychologist that’s helping him to think and race like the worlds best. And that’s when it clicked. Tyler is a professional because he has visited places in his mind that few in the world are willing to go. He believes he can do it. He truly believes that his body is capable of racing down these huge hills, launching 40+ feet over jumps and at times riding through pure feeling without full vision of where he is going. The god given ability to choose to believe, can be so powerful in our lives.
A common misconception is that believing is something we do only when talking about faith. But we in fact choose to believe things about ourselves, others and GOD all the time. The problem is that most of the time we have created a twisted worldview where believing the negative things is realistic and so we succumb to fear.
Fear is a commodity of our fallen nature. And the worst part is that fear is societies greatest selling point. We SCARE people into buying insurance, getting good grades, behaving for our parents, staying in relationships and probably one of the worst… we scare people into believing in GOD. Man it sucks to hear people live in fear of being alone…and its even worse to hear people live in fear of not receiving the acceptance of the creator of the eternally discoverable universe. Breaks my heart.
We have a choice. And the choice is not just the act of believing in itself, but what do we specifically believe about ourselves, others and GOD. Do we choose to believe the negatives and justify that its realistic? Or do we choose to believe for the positives and push for better lives? Anyway you look at it you are believing something I guess its just up to what kind of life we want to have.
Below is a video by Lykke Li. I love this girls music and specifically this song is impacting because I think its one of peoples greatest fear…to be let go. But remember we can choose to believe in something that will, in fact, NEVER let us go! Enjoy -
Amen. Almost everyday I pray for God to remove my fear of the unknown, fear of not getting what I want, or losing what I have. When I’m living in fear, I can’t possibly be demonstrating faith in God and his plan for me. When I’m able to give it up, my life runs so much smoother. Through Christ, I can do anything.
p.s. Check out:
Lykke Li- Breaking It Up & NASA ft. Lykke Li, Santogold, Kanye West – Gifted
Amen…isn’t it so strange that when we walk into the unknown, we feel no anxious, or helpless, no control, fear creeps in. I constantly tell myself just for today I choose tp walk by faith, in your promises, just me n you Lord!
speaking of music, I heard a really hot band was formed at a refugee camp recently, think we could get them?
@Micah – Yea you can Micah! Down on the Lykke Li shizna huh?…my favorite song of hers is actually “Possibility”.
@Cindy – It IS all about being in today, isn’t it? Oh, you mean Refugee Cat…I am working on them but they are touring the whole world!
no silly i meant you and the outreach team ,,,a few weeks ago,,,,neil young……. it was a joke ….sorry….sigh …YES…even in the moment…I find praise music helps me keep my head in God.. today…. that is why god made a day only 24 hours…lol if only my head would obey….when God is in my head, peace, trust, faith, assurance, hope, love, stability.
Jeremiah 11
“I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord. “I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come. 12 Then you will call out to me. You will come and pray to me. And I will listen to you. 13 When you look for me with all your heart, you will find me.
btw..thanks….for reminding me…..about staying in today…..
Matt how does Mina do it on bejeweled..I love you two!