Do I Have an Olympic Spirit?

Over the past 17 days I’ve been watching the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. It’s been amazing to see how much of the olympic spirit surrounding these events, have become so contagious. My personal favorite is Gymnastics, but every event shares this same spirit and the elements of sacrifice, commitment, concentration, confidence & determination. The stories behind each competitor and their history of losses and successes, are so inspirational. Each one, possessing one or more of these elements that led them to their moment of truth.

As I watched Gabby Douglas on the balance beam competing for the all-around finals, one of the commentators said something that resonated in me and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. They replayed her aerial on the balance beam in slow motion, zoomed in on her face and began to emphasize the importance of keeping her eyes on the beam in relation to landing with complete accuracy. If she looked anywhere else, to the right or to the left or let anything distract her, it could cause her to lose focus and miss that critical landing.

This was the shot.

As I watched and listened, something clicked in me. Much is the same in real life. I began a mental replay of critical events in my own life and realized how relevant this simple truth was, in relation to my “losses and landings”. They’ve all been greatly influenced by this truth and if I slow those moments down and zoom in on my thoughts, much is revealed to me about my focus.

Reaching any great goal will always require sacrifice, commitment and concentration. We must push beyond our limits, press past all the doubt and remain confident. Doubt can distract us and cause us to fall short of our very best. I can’t imagine those, like Jordyn Weiber, who spend their whole life training for that one moment and then the moment is gone. But how great it was to see her come back with determination and help her team win the gold. We all have the choice to either let our actions be led by our emotions or lead our emotions by our actions.

My life has been much like the olympics and more often than not, instead of focusing on God, I’ve focused on my circumstances and the “what if” factor.” What if I fall? What if I can’t? What if I lose?”  I’ve let problems around me and noise of doubt and worry distract me, only to miss my landing many times. I still do. I know where my focus ought to be, but is not and each time I fall, God says, “return to me and I will save you…fix your eyes and let your confidence be IN ME, and I will give you strength”. Adversity is the very thing that sharpens me and pushes me beyond my limits, past my fears until I have complete confidence in HIM, so all the glory is HIS and not mine. And as I stand to face whatever is before me, that’s my moment of truth when I must pause and ask myself…WHAT am I willing to sacrifice? WILL I be committed? WHAT will I concentrate on? WHO is my confidence in? HOW will I determine to finish? And WHERE is my focus?

And most importantly…WHAT spirit will I choose to have in me? The Olympic Spirit…or the HOLY SPIRIT?

Proverbs 4:25-27 ” Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the path at your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or left; keep your foot from evil.”

Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

2 Corinthians 4: 8-9  “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Matthew 6:25-33 “Therefore, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about our body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ….But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

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