I am not a huge fan of the Winter Olympics, but when I learned of a young athletes death during practice in Vancouver, Canada, I did tune in to learn more. I understand the devotion, dedication and sacrifice athletes and their families make to qualify to compete in the Olympic games and my heart went out to the young man's parents who died in a blink of an eye after years of training and sacrifice.
I am from Detroit, Michigan, but I was not exposed to many of the winter sports that are a part of the winter Olympic games and that is one reason why I do not enjoy them nearly as much as the summer games. Also, I do not understand the point of some of the sports in the winter games. It seems to me that people are risking their lives to be able to fly in the air on skies, snow boards, or ice skates for a few seconds of air born freedom. I may not total "get it" but I do respect people's choices, and there is no doubt in my mind that the people in these sports our extremely talented athletes.
One thing I do not like about the Olympic games in general is that there can only be one gold medalist in each category. The public usually only remembers and embraces the gold medalist. Oh, I "get it" but I often wonder about all the other athletes, those that won medals, and those that did not. Their years of training and going without so many other things so they could focus on their sport, just to make it to the Olympics and not win. Was it worth it? Did they not work as hard as the gold medalist? How does it feel to give everything you've got and still fall short of your goal? It hurts, I am not an olympic athlete, but I know that.
As I watch the games I see athletes who have won a silver or bronze medal and are not satisfied. They lash out at the person who has won in the media, or they promise to return in four years to win the gold medal. They want to be number one. The truth is no one is number one long in sports, there's always someone else, younger (not always but usually) stronger, and more talented ready to take the number one spot. But while the athlete is number one they can take advantage of so many opportunities that can extend their fame and be profitable to them personally. So is winning the gold medal about being the best in one's sport, or reaping the fame and financial rewards when you do? Personally, I think it is the love of the sport first (Who could go through all of that preparation if it wasn't?), but for some individuals they get caught up in the fame and glory of it all.
The thing I love about being a child of God is that he has enough love for all of us to be number one. We do not have to compete with anyone else for the top spot, we already have it. Of course we may not feel this way because there is no news media broadcasting our great feats, no adoring fans, and no cheering crowds to validate our hard work and expertise of execution. Most of the times there are now rewards ceremonies and no fame and fortune for what we have done. It is easy to allow ourselves to think that way. If we do we are making the mistake of choosing the world's view of reward and success.
My mother has not been feeling very well over the last two weeks. We have learned what the problem is and it is very serious. For those of you who don't know, my mom has had cancer and two bone marrow transplants. We as a family have been through so much, and we face this new health challenge with our faith in God.
Yesterday, Dad took mom to a church function. It was the first time she had been out of the house since the two blizzards with the exception of doctors visits. She had asked me earlier in the week could I clean her bathroom. She was in so much pain she could not do it herself. So, yesterday morning (Saturday) they got up, and headed to church. Once they were out of the house I got to work. To clean mom's bathroom means taking out all the equipment in that room that she needs. Is there any glory in cleaning a toilet? Once I got the bathroom under control, I washed my parents bed linen. Do they give out gold medals for changing bed linens? I made their bed, washed their clothes, folded them, but them away and then reorganized my mom's closet. I emptied all their trash cans, put away all her medicine bottles, cleaned off her dresser, and vacuumed the floor. I did everything that needed to be done. In all it took me four hours to do the job right.
There were no crowds cheering me on as I worked. No coaches on the sidelines providing last minute instructions. It was just me, but as I was working I remember waking up on Saturday mornings smelling cooked bacon or sausage and running down to the kitchen to eat breakfast. My parents would get my brother and I dressed and we would all pile in our family car. Dad would drop mom off at one of her friends house who had just had a baby, or had been sick and spend the whole day at her house cleaning and cooking for her. In the meantime dad took us, and sometimes the children of mom's friend, for a day at the park. Mom wasn't there four hours, she was there all day. She had cleaned and cooked at her own house, and the one day of the week when her husband was home (we always went to church on Sundays) she had decided to help out a friend. Where was her gold medal? In the thanks of her friend and the smiles of her children and husband at the end of the day with McDonalds for dinner (mom has never liked McDonalds, but it meant she did not have to cook dinner for us, and dad wasn't very good at cooking).
When my parents returned from the church event they had attended mom was so happy their bed was made. She was worn out and needed to rest. She immediately used her clean bathroom and laid down to rest. She was happy with all I had done. She had not asked me to clean her room. She did not have to. I knew it had to be done. I got her something to drink, and the TV remote and we talked for about 20 minutes and then see fell off to sleep. That was my reward, my gold medal.
Each one of us does things that help others in our lives. It may seem as if it is all for nothing at times, but it is not. We may not get recognition or rewards, but God knows what we do to be a blessing to others, and that is what matters most. We cannot allow the world's view of what is important, or successful or worthy of fame or fortune cloud our judgement. We have to focus on what is eternal.
King David wrote about the true value of gold in Psalms 19:
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
In 1 Peter 1: 6-9 we read:
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
So as you go about your daily duties and work, think how much you are adding to the kingdom of God. Your attitude and actions are a witness to those around you and and blessing to them and you. You are a gold medalist.
No comments:
Post a Comment