A lesson in rugby

At orientation this summer, a few girls from the women's rugby team approached me during the activity fair. After talking to them I joined their mailing list, and though I wasn't seriously considering joining, the thought was at least in the back of my mind. Then during my first few weeks on campus, I received several emails from the team announcing the first practice-"NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. ALL WELCOME!" Well, I certainly didn't have any experience with rugby or any other competitive team sport, but I thought I'd give it a shot.

The reactions from my family and friends left something to be desired. There were a few moments of dead silence on the phone when I told my parents, until my dad finally exclaimed, "But you're my baby!" My brother asked if I was aware that rugby is a contact sport and that I would actually have to tackle people. My friend Liz pointed out that I'm "the most un-athletic person on the planet!" I heard lots of comments about how I would probably hate it and quit after a week. Despite the less-than-encouraging remarks I received, I decided to stick with it through a few weeks of practice and the first game.

At first I loved everything about rugby. I was learning about the game, and it wasn't too difficult. I was making new friends and getting a lot of exercise. However, things soon got a lot more complicated. It was a much bigger time commitment than I had anticipated; some weeks, rugby takes up to 20 hours with practices and games. We started tackling, and I remember hearing my own head crack against the solid ground the first time I took a hard hit. At my first game, I was constantly out of position and making mistakes like illegal passes. As some of my teammates got concussions and broken bones, and as black and blue bruises appeared on my own arms and legs, I realized I was a little more terrified of being injured than I had thought I would be. I started thinking that maybe everybody was right-maybe I can't play rugby.

Perhaps it was for the wrong reasons, but I refused to quit. While I was afraid of being tackled to the ground, I was more scared to admit to everyone that I wasn't cut out to play rugby. I forced myself to believe it would get better, and it did. As I continued to go to practice, I began to fully understand the game, and I learned that tackling an opponent is much easier when I go in aggressively and confidently. And finally, I was able to take pride in knowing I had pushed myself to do something new.

Coming in as a freshman, it has been interesting to watch the dynamics of how my classmates are interacting with one another. While we all may have been the valedictorian or the student council president or the captain of the volleyball team in high school, nobody stands out yet at American; nobody comes in already a recognized leader. Yet the people I see beginning to emerge as role models are those who are embracing their new environment. The people who are standing out are the ones who are pushing themselves to grow into something they have never been before-trying new activities, making friends with different groups of people, and challenging themselves to do things others believe are impossible.

I think religion and faith also require us to take chances-that's why it's called a leap of faith. Sometimes we have to jump without knowing where we'll land. Sometimes we get tackled or acquire a few bruises along the way. But ultimately, overcoming obstacles and facing challenges is what makes us better Christians and draws us closer to God. For as Romans 5:3 says, "we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance."

Kristen Walling is in her first year as a HELM Leadership Fellow and is a member of Euclid Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.