Olympic Thoughts

These 2010 Vancouver Olympics have not failed to spur excitement and motivation.  The US won more medals on the opening day of competition than in any other Olympics in our history so far.  And those medals were exciting to watch, while the stories of the athlete's road to winning were motivating to hear:

• Redemption for Hannah Kearney, winning the first US gold, after not even qualifying for the finals in the last Olympics.
• J R Celski winning the bronze in the 1500m short-track, after five months of rehab from a crippling injury
• Apollo Anton Ohno won the silver and tied for the most medals won by an American in Winter Games competition, with a chance to exceed in his upcoming races

In these two weeks, I will continue to be at home, jumping up and down alone in front of the TV, cheering for the US athletes and proudly tearing up with them whenever they hear the National Anthem playing as the flag is raised during a medals ceremony.

When I see the sacrifice and dedication of the athletes; and the acknowledgment that "it takes a village"; I am reminded that I should approach the service of my LORD with that sort of sacrifice and dedication, being supported by the Church Body.  One thing I also recognized this week was how easy it was to be distracted.  Just as the athletes need to focus on their goal and the "prize", in the same way, we need to focus on Christ and our hope for eternity.  Those who become part of my inner "team" circle should only be those who would help me be better and motivate me to keep my eyes on the finish line.