Well, here we go again. Another Winter Olympic games is upon us. Personally, I love the winter games much more than those in the summer. The downhill skiing, the giant slalom, the ski jumps, the speed skating, the bobsledding, the luge, and yes, even a little figure skating does the soul good. These events, as well as the others I failed to mention, are incredible to watch. I can't imagine what it would be like to actually be one of the athletes. What a rush!
It is amazing to me that these athletes spend thousands upon thousand of hours preparing for a few minutes of competetion with the hope of taking home the gold medal. And with the Olympics occurring only once every four years, one slip, one false move, one fall can mean the difference between the possibility of bringing home a medal or just chalking it up to "the experience". And yet, the reality is that only a few ever get the chance to stand on the podium. So what's the deal? Why bust it when the odds are so slim to medal? And why jump right back into training when it will be 4 years before the next winter games?
It has to do with passion - the passion to win within their respective sport. The passion to prioritize life to do whatever it takes to be in shape. The passion to grunt and groan, to push the limit, to train day in and day out. The passion to do the best and be the best. The passion to keep on keeping on even in the midst of danger (so unfortunate for the luge athlete from Georgia).
Could you imagine the impact the church would have on communities and the world if we had the same kind of passion for the gospel and for others to know and experience Christ as athletes do for the Olympics? Maybe it's time we follow the example of our athletic friends, discern and develop our passion, and not only do whatever it takes to get in shape, but stay in shape. The prize awaits!
