The Olympic Games are the biggest arena for individual heroism in sports. My heart strings are tugged every time I witness greatness on a grand scale and there is no shortage of such things at the Games.
There are so many things that go through my mind when I watch the Olympics. I think about what it must have taken for each athlete to get to this point in their career. So much has been invested. So many things have been sacrificed. Their dedication and commitment is evident and they've inevitably been "overcomers" in order to possess the mental fortitude on display.
All of this makes the Olympic Games seem like something in our imaginations. Like it's not real and, most definitely, not attainable or a viable option for those watching from home.
Except, it is. It's both real and attainable.
The curious fact is that these athletes are just ordinary people who do extraordinary things. They go above and beyond expectation in many areas and they follow a strict training plan that fully integrates every nuance of their lives, however, they all have insecurities and fears. They embrace struggle and strain in order to experience triumphant victories. They're just people.
"Elijah was a human being, even as we are." These words from the book of James (5:17) had a tremendous impact on me the first time I read them. Elijah was an Old Testament prophet and miracle worker. By all standards, he was really big deal, except James said he was just a regular guy. Those heroes of faith in the Bible, similar to the greatest of Olympians, were simply men and women just like you and me.
This gives me great hope and a sense of freedom to go for my goals, as well as encourage and inspire my athletes to pursue theirs. Maybe it does the same for you. However, I also get scared to think about this because it calls us out. If not me, then who? If not you, then who?
The Olympic Games are the place where regular people transcend the human existence and become larger than life, and for a moment in time lift the rest of us up to a better place.
Citius, Altius, Fortius. Swifter, Higher, Stronger. This is the credo.
Still, they're ordinary people. That's what I like best. There is an incredible amount of commitment and dedication, tremendous accolades and records, but there's also a lot of regular. That seems tangible. We can understand this.
I love it when ordinary people do unexpected things. It helps me to believe that no matter how unremarkable I may feel, God can do something extraordinary with me. There are some common "ingredients" that we would do well to deposit into our pursuits if we desire to live the life of an Olympian, possibly becoming one in 2024 or beyond:
- Grit - Passion + Perseverance
- A clear vision - eyes on the prize and in clear view
- Freedom - exactly who you were created to be; use the freedom to be/do more, not less
- Integrity - connecting all of the dots and unifying all aspects of your life into the vision and purpose
We hosted a camp last week during the Olympic Games with several athletes who have real Olympic dreams. We watched every wrestling match, picking apart the words mentioned above and understanding that this all requires a deep sense of purpose, sincere meekness, and bold courage, as well.
There's noting inherently "special" about the athletes we watch in the Olympics. They're just people like you and me. There's no magic pill, special technique, talent, or luck that put them onto the biggest stage. Their stories always include a ton of little things added up over time. The Olympics demonstrate that success is about development and maturity through the process. You can make the changes to commit to that.
You're just a regular person. Now, go and do extraordinary things. The changes God wants to see in our lives happens from within. He's not trying to put something inside of us; He wants to pull something out of us.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7
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