I AM AN OLYMPIAN. Guess the sport.

I LOVE the Olympics! But I have to tell you, the Olympics blow my whole schedule out-of-whack. First of all, they are on till 11 PM. I’m normally in bed by 9 PM, so every night I struggle to see the ending. In June I was walking 3 miles with 120 deep lunges, but since the Olympics are on, I don’t want to miss a moment (and yes, I have DVR, but that’s not the point). Then I feel so badly for those Olympians. The sacrifices they have made to reach this pivotal point in their careers. Their diets are so strict and rigid, so I feel I need to eat dessert for them…see where this is going?


Then there’s the whole, “I could be an Olympian,” or “I wish I was an Olympian.” They are so in shape and ripped with their finely sculpted bodies that are skilled in the finer techniques of their sport making them the best in the world. My daughter has visions of becoming an Olympian in gymnastics and swimming. Problem is she can’t even do a cartwheel, and she’s 11! Yes, I have failed as a mother. So we discuss what it will take to make it to the Olympics for swimming. Then she’s not as quite committed because this girl LOVES her social time, and she just wants everyone to have fun and get along. She most certainly does not want to sweat.

One night after the children went to bed, I walked into the den and told Patrick I could go to the Olympics because I could do a cartwheel, a round-off, and as of last summer I could still do the splits. When he didn’t respond, I struck the pose as if I was about to start a tumbling layout. That got his attention. “Ummm, I don’t think so.” If he hadn’t have looked up, I would have had to do a tumble or something. It’s a good thing he didn’t tempt me.

Then there’s the whole judging thing. It’s amazing how quickly we become versed in a sport that we’ve watched for an hour. It’s hilarious. I hear my son say, “They’re going to deduct for that probably a tenth of a point.” Seriously?

These men and women work for years up to decade or so perfecting their techniques, strengthening their bodies, working on weaknesses just to have the privilege of competing in the Olympics. For some, we will never see them compete or know their names. For some we are bombarded with their names and images. Either way they aren’t satisfied with where they are. They are always trying to do a little better, get a little faster, get a little stronger. This is endurance through perseverance.

Christianity is compared to running a race:

• Acts 20:24, my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace

• 1 Corinthians 9:24, do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

• Galatians 2:23, I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain

• Galatians 5:7, you were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?

• 1 Timothy 4:7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

• Hebrew 12:1, therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

Christianity is a race of endurance. It’s not a sprint, and you’re done. Olympians train for years before making it to London in 2012, and then afterwards, it’s not over. Many begin training for the next Olympics.

Be an Olympian of the Christian faith. Work hard on your faith when no one is looking. Spend time with Jesus and have those quiet times. Dig deeper into His Word. You have the privilege to represent Him in this life, so do your homework.

Be an Olympian of the Christian faith. Dig into the Bread of Life. What you put into your mind and body is reflected by your body, your health.

Be an Olympian of the Christian faith. Train in such a way that when you enter heaven you will hear Him say, “Well done. Your reward is at hand.” Woohoo! I can’t wait for that day to see my sweet Savior!

Be an Olympian of the Christian faith, and persevere through defeat, through pain, through trials. Even if you never become a headliner for God while on this Earth, persevere and follow the race He has laid out for you to run.

Be an Olympian!