Perseverance, Courage and Strength

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage…They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion.” *

Recently, an inspiring story was reported of Chris Nikic, a young man who completed the Ironman triathlon last November. Completing the triathlon is an amazing athletic achievement for anyone, but this was special because it was the first time a person with Downs Syndrome officially became an Ironman.

As a child, Chris had to overcome many obstacles. While his older sister grew up to be strong and athletic, Chris’s speech, cognitive ability and physical development all took longer.

At the age of eighteen, he was overweight, lonely and spending a lot of time on the couch watching TV. Thanks to loving, supportive parents, he finally came to the point of realizing that there was more for him in life than what he was experiencing.

When the opportunity came to have a physical trainer, he made up his mind to begin training…and ended up with the goal of becoming an Ironman by swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running a full marathon of 26.2 miles in one day!

The triathlon began early in the morning as  Chris and the man who had trained him entered into the cold, choppy water for the swim. “You’re going to be an Ironman today,” the coach said, encouraging him. Tethered together, they swam steadily. Chris never faltered in spite of the rough water.

As they emerged, they jogged to the second area where their bikes were ready. This was the key part of the race where his endurance would be tested to the max.

“Faster, faster! Come on,” urged the guide as he pedaled directly behind Chris’ rear wheel. They were riding into the wind, but had to maintain a 17 mile per hour speed. Even with that speed, the bike route would take eight hours. And they made it!

After a brief stop at a first aid station, Chris and his guide began the final part of the triathlon. They ran across the finish line late that night. He waved his arms in the air before a round of big hugs to his helper and the cheering friends surrounding him.

Months later,  Chris was selected as the winner of the 2021 Jimmy V award for perseverance. Standing before a large audience, he spoke with composure and sincerity, explaining how he had achieved Ironman status:

 “By getting 1% better every day; working hard; and never giving up…I want to honor God by being the best I can be and bringing hope to others,” he told the audience. What an inspiration!

Al’s sister Ann is another example of a person who challenges herself. She recently celebrated her 60^th birthday by participating in the “Around the Rock” bike race near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a one day, 154-mile ride that actually had a climb over Teton Pass at the end! Along with quite an elevation gain, over half of the ride was on gravel, making the pedaling even more difficult,

It was getting dark before she began the ascent to the pass. She had ridden 134 miles! Ann decided to stop at that point, where she was transported back to her car. Not discouraged, the next weekend she went by herself and completed the entire route in one day, including the pass! That was quite the birthday celebration!

What was she thinking about during those long, arduous hours on the bike? “I just told myself to keep pedaling, just keep pedaling,” she explained. “What else would I be doing today? I kept thinking about what an amazing place with beautiful scenery and how privileged I am to live in a place like that. I felt lucky to have good strong legs, heart  and lungs.”

Ann Lowery and Chris Nikic are certainly examples of people with courage, perseverance and strength, as were the pilgrims who had to make the long trek from their homes to the temple in Jerusalem for annual Jewish celebrations such as the Passover. Even though they passed through dangerous places and sometimes wept along the way, they went from “strength to strength…” until they made the final climb up the stone steps and into the temple courtyard.

And so, we take one step at a time, growing stronger in our faith, never giving up, until we stand face to face with Jesus. One day, we will!

*Psalm 84: 5,7 NIV