By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
In a project funded through a Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship grant, a diocesan school principal completed a full Ironman triathlon.
Matt Moore, principal at Annunciation Catholic School at Christ the King in Evansville, was one of four diocesan educators to have a project funded through the Lilly Fellowship over the past grant cycle. He has spent over a decade as a principal in the diocese.
“This experience renewed me as a husband, father and school principal,” Moore said. “It inspired my family, my students and even myself in ways I didn’t expect. I hope now to pass that inspiration on — to encourage others to set goals, work hard and find joy in the journey.”
Inspired by overcoming obstacles in life, Moore trained for and completed a full Ironman triathlon. He completed the triathlon in October in Sacramento, California.
“It’s still surprising and it’s still surreal that I was able to do it and that I was able to accomplish it,” Moore said. “I’ve got a magnet on my refrigerator at home that says 140.6. And I just see that, and it’s still kind of like, you did what? It doesn’t really seem real that I had that opportunity, was given that opportunity and was blessed with that opportunity.”
On the trip to California, Moore and his family left on a Thursday morning and got back on a Tuesday evening. He said the short trip was “such an emotional trip” for him. He was overcome with emotions so many times, he said.
“I’m just so grateful to God for all that he has done for me and continues to do for me,” Moore said. “It’s just really kind of an unreal experience. And it’s really a humbling and moving experience that I had this opportunity. It was just such an amazing opportunity to be a part of and to get to experience with my family.”
During the triathlon, Moore had two things written on his arms. This included the numbers 4:13. This represented Philippians 4:13, which says “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.”
Moore said he also had joy written on his arm. He said while in California, so many people advised him to enjoy the triathlon, soak it all in and enjoy it, stating you only get the opportunity once to do his first full Ironman.
“That really is what life is all about is we only get one opportunity at this life,” Moore said. “You might as well make the best of it and you might as well enjoy it. And it’s easy to find joy and enjoy those moments when things are going well. It’s so much more powerful though when things hurt, when you’re tired, when you’re exhausted, when you feel like giving up. When life is like that, it’s pausing in that moment to say what brings me joy right now? What am I grateful for right now?”
Moore encouraged educators that are considering formulating their own projects for a potential grant from the Lilly Fellowship in the future to dream big and focus on why that project would be renewing and life-changing for them.
“The bigger idea and the bigger the why, the better,” Moore said. “And the more likelihood they have of getting their project funded.”
We will have a story on Reitz Memorial teacher William Lismore’s project in a future issue of The Message. For his project, Lismore returned to his homeland of England to experience the literary and lexicographical landmarks of Oxford and London and reunite with family.