I’m not a fast swimmer. I’m not a fast runner. And if I played against the US women’s volleyball team, I’d probably get spiked in the face. While I can’t personally relate to the level of athletic excellence on display at the Olympics, there’s something captivating about watching a representative of your own country compete for gold. I’ve enjoyed following gymnastics, swimming and other sports I didn’t even know existed with Aliza during the last week. It’s an opportunity to behold the glory of our Creator who made and upholds every fiber of the human body!
My favorite part of the Olympics, however, is observing what happens immediately after a particular race or event. A man or woman has just won a gold medal. It’s the culmination of 4 years of grueling training and devotion…what happens next? Some cry. Some raise their hands with exaltation. Some shout and dance around. And some demonstrate exemplary humility and sportsmanship. Several times I observed swimmers jumping lane lines after a race to hug one of their competitors, to “rejoice with those who rejoice” (Rom. 12:15). A 41 year-old swimmer, Dara Torres, actually stopped the semifinal women’s 50 meter free just before the starting gun because she noticed Therese Alshammar of Sweden had a tear in her swimsuit which would cause it to fill with water during the race. Last night the US women’s discus gold medalist when asked how she managed to win said, “I feel like God gave me a lot of grace”.
None of these events make the front page headlines, but I believe these are the moments God watches most closely. No one gets an Olympic award for “Most Humble”. Yet Isaiah 66:2 declares, “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” As you follow Olympics over the next week, be on the look-out for examples of humility. And if you’re a parent, seize the opportunity to remind your children of what wins acclaim in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. Because it’s His approval that ultimately matters.
- Matthew
0 Responses to “Olympic Sportsmanship”