God's Coaching #197

God's Coaching #197

Matt Moniz was awestruck as he stood on top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. The view from 13,796 feet on the Big Island would inspire anybody. But what made this moment extra special to Matt was the fact that he’d just climbed, walked, or biked to the highest point in all fifty states in a record 43 days, three hours, 51 minutes, and nine seconds! Oh yeah—it probably should be mentioned that Matt was just 12 years old.

Matt began his historic journey with his dad by climbing Mount McKinley in Alaska. At 20,320 feet, it’s the highest point in North America. But he ran into a lot of trouble on Mount Rainier in Washington. Near the 14,410-foot summit, a storm blew in and stopped his progress. Matt said Guadalupe Peak (8,749 feet) in Texas was one of the prettiest. And when he summited Mauna Kea on this day in 2010, his journey was complete.

What’s the Score?

Matt proved that his age couldn’t stop him from completing an amazing challenge. He made it even more fun by trying to discover the best root beer and hot chocolate on his trip. He decided the best root beer was found at the base of Mount Rainier, while the best hot chocolate was in Salt Lake City, Utah. During his adventure, Matt also made a stop in New York City’s Central Park, where he spoke to a crowd of 25,000 people about the importance of getting outside and enjoying nature. Sure, Matt wanted to break a record and reach the highest point in every state, but his biggest goal was to get kids excited about being outside.

The Bible tells us that inspiring and caring for people is one of the most important things we can do with our lives. The apostle Paul wrote, “If I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2). It took a lot of faith for Matt to climb the highest mountains (of course, 345-foot Britton Hill in Florida wasn’t too tough). But Matt’s goal wasn’t personal glory. He wanted to help other kids live healthier lives by getting outside. We need to be as committed to helping others and showing them Jesus’ love.

On the Ball

How often do you exercise? Make sure you’re keeping your body healthy. Get outside today to ride your bike, throw a Frisbee, or go swimming. Bring some friends along to show that you care about their health too.

Coach’s Comment

If I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2