The first magical line in the Bible is, "In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth." This sentence is so complex, yet so meaningful. I know this sentence only has ten words but have you ever looked deep into the meaning? God is taking his paintbrush, color by color, and watching the bristles on the end of that wooden stick paint a magnificent picture. When you think about it, God was given a blank canvas, and do you know the depths of what he has created? The core of this brilliant planet that we walk on, is something He created. The muscles that we use to build endurance and push our limits, He created.

When God was creating our lives, He was probably realizing that He needed to give us a blank canvas in order for us to create our masterpieces. When you were born, you took one look into your mother and father's eyes and they were crying tears of joy because they already knew that you, alone, were enough. Your hands were one-eighth the size of theirs and your dependence on them was fine because they knew that one day you would hold your paintbrush with such strong and dedicated force, just like the way that you would grip their fingers. You were intended to be so small at the beginning of your life but God's intention was to make you feel as if you had purpose and power over your own, personal canvas. The size of your temple has never mattered to Him because what you have to offer this world is almost greater that the world itself. Human beings, since the day we were created, have been conquering problems and solving solutions that at one point seemed impossible, and all those conquered problems and solved solutions changed the world because those were greater than the world itself. Humans can be so intelligent and so insane that it is almost frightening to most people, but if that means I am going to leave my mark on this brilliant planet, then I would like to be insane.

My biggest fear is making myself feel small, and only doing small things, but what I don't know, is that something is in me is fighting the mental blockage I have created for myself because I am bound to be great, just like all of you. You, and you alone, are bound for greatness. Maybe you are bad at taking tests? Your hands become sweaty and you can't help but notice all of what is around you and it is keeping you from going with your gut answers because second guessing yourself becomes your number one priority. Or, maybe you can't do a single sport even if you try. Your body is too awkward to run up and down a court or maybe you just don't have any interest in sports, just know that there is something in you that is so insane, that it can't be stopped once it is found, and if you have found this insane part of you, then I can only imagine what your paintbrush is up to. You may suck at taking tests and you may not be considered as the "intelligent type," but damn, emotionally and physically? You are brilliant. You may be bad at sports and you may not be considered the "athletic type," but damn, emotionally & mentally? You are madly bound for success. You don't have to be like him and you don't have to be like her. You don't have to feed into the pressure of being something you are not passionate about. You just have to be you and that alone will always be enough.

I am a track athlete for Emporia State University and about to approach my junior year, and I still have yet to peek in my events. Sometimes, I tend to look around at my teammates and pay more attention to them than to myself. I love all of my teammates in and out, but for some odd reason, I get more satisfaction out of them peeking and being successful in the sport because the love I have for them all is too great to act upon. When I see my teammates cross the finish line first or PR in their event, I jump with the proudest smile on my face because I got to witness there utterly, perfect moment. I got the chance to witness them train with nothing but exhaustion wearing and tearing on their bodies. The goals in mind for them were so powerful that nothing was stopping them. They found their passion and as I would watch them at times I would have to remind myself that, even though they are all great, I am too. That I do not have to be like him or be like her, to feel my utterly, perfect moment one day. I will reach my peak, but for me, it will be more on the emotional aspect. One of my most inspirational friends is a 3 time All-American. Why? He Is Insane. He brought himself out of the dark and is now sharing his light with others, and that is so powerful to the point where I would like to be insane too. His paintbrush is using colors so bold and so whole hearted that you can't help but want to be involved in something so insane.

The people that are insane are the ones that will change the world. Be passionate, love fearlessly, be at grace with what you have, and never take for granted that you have a paintbrush that was God given. You may have started on your blank canvas when you were six, but I started mine when I was 19, and my colors are fearlessly acting upon the mold that is holding all of my passions together. You are not small, so do not think small, do not be on the brink of breakage because you do not believe your accomplishments are big enough, they are enough for yourself. Usually "Insane" means that you are mentally ill, that you are a mad one, but I would love to be insane because the ones that are insane are the ones that change the face of what's known.

"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." -Steve Jobs