Let’s Talk About Arenas

I have blogged about the olympics several days now. I can’t help myself because I am thinking today about our own daily olympics that require all kinds of fitness, mind control, determination and a no-quit attitude.

I’ve been to Paris with friends. It was one of the stops in our 21-day European cruise several years ago. We had to be fit and determined as we navigated ourselves around the city on trains, buses, taxis, while running to catch those modes of transportation. We meandered around Paris and the crowds there. My mind can hardly conceive what the Paris Olympics’ crowds are like.

The Paris Olympians, with their intense training and unwavering focus, should inspire you and me to step up our game in striving for excellence in our lives. We have our own arenas where we aim to be champions.

Take parenting for example. In the sport of parenting, we face challenges that test our patience, strength, and love. Whether it’s calming a fussy toddler, guiding a teenager through turbulent years, or simply being present for our children, we are running a marathon that requires endurance and heart.

The Bible reminds us to: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) We are their coaches! Every effort we put into raising our children is a step towards their victory and ours!

In the workplace, we strive to be the best we can be with meeting expectations and handling a menagerie of responsibilities. Our colleagues and supervisors might not hand us a gold medal, but our hard work and integrity are seen and valued. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23)

In our personal lives, we face competitions of our own making. We persevere and give our best efforts. We strive to overcome past mistakes and grow into better versions of ourselves. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

I have our TV already programmed to the events I don’t want to miss. Let’s watch the athletes in Paris, cheer them on, and then take their determination as inspiration for our own lives.

Let us all run our race to be the best we can be, knowing that our efforts, both seen and unseen, are part of a divine journey. Whether in parenting, the workplace, or personal growth, we are all Olympians in our own right, striving for the ultimate prize of God saying: “Well done, good and faithful servants!”