Not to complain, but today I'm tired...bordering on exhausted, actually. I've got mush-brain, am fighting the beginning of a cold, and am struggling to get much of anything accomplished.
And the Olympics are totally to blame...staying up waaaay too late every night, glued to the TV.
But my oh my, if you're an addict like me, aren't they simply fabulous? Who knew water polo or skeet shooting could be so fascinating, engrossing even? I've watched and yelled and cheered on to victory Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, Simone Manuel, and all the rest of the USA olympic team in every sport from beach volleyball to synchronized diving (YAY Johnson and Boudia!!) to cycling to swimming of all types and distances. I love, love, love it all!
And since it's now time for women's trampoline, let's keep this short and sweet. Just two comments. First, thank the Lord for the timing of the Olympics. If our country ever needed something to cheer about, something positive and good to watch and listen to, something encouraging and thrilling to focus upon, it is NOW! I think I've successfully avoided watching or listening to the super depressing, negative news (especially political--mercy!!) for the past week, and can I just say, it's been glorious? Feels kind of like taking a long, hot shower and getting wonderfully clean after wallowing in the mud and sweating in the heat on a long, tough hike. Thank You, Lord, for the Olympics and for reminding us that there's still plenty of good stuff happening in the world.
Second, how great are so many of these stories from the Olympics? We cheered and cried when we heard the synchronized divers, Boudia and Johnson, share that the way they stayed calm, kept it all in perspective, and dealt with the pressure was: "My identity is rooted in Christ." They both have amazing stories of heartache, struggle, and ultimately redemption through the power of Christ. You may not read about it in the newspaper, but look it up on youtube and listen to their stories. Wow--Christ is in the redemption business.
Or how about Michael Phelps? Two years ago, he had his second drunken driving arrest and was a suicidal alcoholic. He described himself as "a train wreck. I felt lost." Phelps told ESPN that after that arrest, he "thought the world would just be better off without me . . . I figured that was the best thing to do — just end my life."
His friend, Ray Lewis (as in the former All-Pro linebacker and an outspoken believer), saw Phelps' despair and told him, "This is when we fight . . . This is when real character shows up. Don’t shut down. If you shut down we all lose.”
Lewis convinced Phelps to enter rehab and gave him a copy of Rick Warren's classic, The Purpose Driven Life. Within days, Phelps called Lewis to tell him the book had changed his life. Phelps explained to ESPN that the book had "turned me into believing there is a power greater than myself and there is a purpose for me on this planet.”
I don't where Phelps' faith is, but I do know that his life has turned around. He has reconciled with his father from whom he'd been estranged for over twenty years. He has a new purpose, a new fiance, a new baby, a new determination, a new love for his sport, and a new peace. And man oh man, can that boy swim! He's simply a joy to watch.
There's story after story like this from the Olympics, and it reminds us that God has His people everywhere. From the pool to the track. From the soccer field to the gymnastics mat. From the elementary school to the stock exchange. From the manufacturing plant to the hospital. Our sovereign Lord is everywhere. His plans will never be thwarted. And He has placed His people in all sorts of places, doing all sorts of things, and accomplishing all sorts of purposes.
I don't know about you, but that puts a spring in my step and renewed hope in my heart. We're never alone. Never. God is always, always, always with us...and He has infiltrated this planet with His people. As C.S. Lewis put it, "Enemy-occupied territory---that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.”
So go Simone! Go Johnson and Boudia! Go Katie! Go USA! But never forget the infinitely bigger Story behind all their stories--the King has landed. He has already won the victory. And we are each called to serve our King to the best of our ability in whatever arena of the battle He has placed us. Whether in sports, school, business, home, or wherever He's sovereignly set us "for such a time as this." (Esther 4:14) All by His grace. All for His glory.
To quote Simone Manuel, "All Glory to God! Isn't He awesome?!" Preach it, Simone, preach it! To God be all the glory.
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