Olympic Fever

“I am #1. I am #1,” said Jamaican track star Usain Bolt after he won Olympic gold and set new world records in both the men’s 100 & 200 meter dash! Ah yes, all eyes have been on Beijing, China for the last two weeks as athletes from around the world have competed and provided memorable performances that will not soon be forgotten. American swimmer Michael Phelps achieved the impossible by winning a gold medal in every event he participated in (an Olympic record 8 gold medals!). Incredible! Misty May and Kerri Walsh won their second straight Olympic gold in women’s beach volleyball, and Nastia Liukin followed in the footsteps of her father (Vaieri Liukin won a gold medal as a gymnast for the Soviet Union in 1988)with her gold medal performance in women’s gymnastics. Without a doubt, the Olympic games have provided lots of excitement for fans and fulfilled the life-long dreams of many Olympic athletes.

In between my tuning in to watch many of the Olympic events, I started to think about what these athletes actually have to do in order to make themselves into world-class athletes who can compete with and beat the best athletes their sport has to offer. For most of the Olympic athletes, training to be the best is not a hobby that is done a couple days a week in their spare time…it’s their LIFE!! It consumes their time, their energy, their goals, and their dreams. The pursuit of Olympic gold captures the entire focus on their lives. Some athletes live away from their families to receive the best coaching and training facilities available. Traveling around the country and the world to compete in events to get ready for the Olympics becomes the norm, and the “normal” teenage life of school, family, and friends can take a back seat for just one chance at Olympic glory.

I am reminded of the verse in 1 Timothy 4: 7-8 “…Rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (NIV).

Maybe training to be an Olympic athlete doesn’t consume your life, but what does? Is it the pursuit of success as a student, being popular, being the best-looking, having lots of money, dressing the coolest? What place does God have in your life? Are you too busy for Him, does He control your time/thoughts/dreams/goals, or are you somewhere in between?

Whatever you do, whatever you pursue, whatever you devote your time to…don’t leave God in the dust.