Day 34 – I find it ironic that today is the start of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC. I always used to dream of being in the Olympics – not really sure what for – but the idea of being the best and seeking excellence always thrilled me. I think that every one of us has a little Olympian inside whether we are an athlete or not. It is an awesome experience to sit and cheer on your country and it is hard not to feel a part when they stand on that Olympic podium listening to OUR national anthem signifying a win.
Today, there was someone doing a practice run for the Luge and he crashed and died. His name is Nodar Kumaritashvili from Georgia (the country – not the state). I was watching TV and they showed his final moments as he was catapulted off the track and hit his head at 88 mph. Then we hear about our own Olympian, Lindsay Vonn, a downhill skier who is injured and who will push through to do her best in these games. What both of these people have taught me is about the pursuit of excellence and perseverance.
I think whenever someone dies unexpectedly, it makes me reflect on how we never know the moment and yet there truly is a clock ticking over our head. God knows when that moment is and He is abundantly aware of what is in our path. We don't know and as such, we should pursue every opportunity to know Christ and know his calling for our life.
2 Peter 1: 3-11
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
As these Olympians train for years to gain the tools they need for possibly only one excellent race, God gives us everything we need for life. We are equipped with the tools already to have a life of excellence with him at the center. We get to participate in divine nature…wow! He doesn't need us, but he chooses to use us and have us participate so that we may grow closer to Him. So, perhaps that little Olympian that is inside each and every one of us is planted there so that we strive for excellence for Him. We, too, are in training and he needs us to start doing our miles with Him so that we are even better equipped for what will be thrown our way.
Woot! I love this!
ReplyDeleteI get so much mileage out of the analogies between athletic and spiritual pursuits (pun intended!). Being a great athlete inevitably means getting up again after phenomenal setbacks, and persevering through pain and injury that tempt us to give up.
My Grandma and I were talking on the phone just today about my Papa's death in July '09. She is still grieving a ton, of course. We talked about how she saw all these glaring signs of his cancer beforehand, and if she'd pressed those issues, they might've been able to remove the tumor and save his life. She beats herself up about these things sometimes, but then at the same time, she knows that it means God was in total control. His timing overwhelmed whatever she could have overlooked .. or not.
He has mapped the course for each one of His athletes. Now let us run in such a way that we may win!! I am so loving following your journey. I read your blog *every* *day* -- no lie!