American Ninja Warrior -- Thinking Outside the Box

Please don't judge me....I love the show "American Ninja Warrior"! I watch it while I'm in warrior mode on my treadmill (I tape the show to get each episode). I watch these people pushing their bodies beyond human possibility. They rigorously train for a year to become the "American Ninja Warrior". In 5 seasons, no one has won, yet the show has proven to be the best reality competition series ever. The competitors have their athletic & mental skills tested beyond limits in the crazy, and seemingly impossible-to-conquer obstacles. Though in 5 seasons, there has been no winner, there will be. I promise you. Olympians, professional athletes, rock climbers, runners and everyday folks -- men and women of all ages and backgrounds -- train for their one shot to compete, many of which end in mere seconds on the first obstacle. So what's the appeal?

Sure, a $500K reward is a factor, but hearing the stories of the people that overcome adversity for their cause and goals is the most amazing. Whether they're doing it for an ill friend, a mother with breast cancer or whether it's their own personal achievement -- weight loss, beating drugs or alcohol -- and it's something that we all can identity with.

Last week, I saw many veteran competitors try to win over one particular obstacle, the cannonballs -- where they had to lunge toward the hanging ball, hold tightly and lunge to the next ball. One by one, the veterans failed and fell into the water. Then a rookie, Kevin Bull, successfully made his way through all the obstacles and then it was his turn to defeat the cannonballs. I watched as he went outside the box, by thinking of another way to get it done. He swung to the last one -- and not with his hands, but his feet and conquered that obstacle. He won't be the last -- there will be others that will conquer that obstacle, too.

Wasn't that like Roger Bannister, the first to conquer the 4-minute mile, and now high school athletes can run the 4-minute mile. What are you willing to achieve by thinking outside the box? What are you willing to do to accomplish your goals? I don't know about you.....but watching the relentless determination of these warriors sure makes me want to give my ALL -- physically, mentally, and spiritually to use what God has given me....to conquer any obstacle that comes my way.....and even do so, sometimes, by "thinking outside the box"!