Olympic Lessons

Every four years the nations of the world send their very best athletes for Olympic competition. As you know, this year those games were held in Beijing, China. We have watched the precision and grace of the gymnasts, the speed of the sprinters, and the power and endurance of the swimmers. We watched with baited breath as Michael Phelps snatched victory from defeat by the slimmest of margins, then only to have the tables turned as the American swimmer Dara Torres lost her race by that same slim margin. We have witnessed the pageantry of the games. And we have observed the pride of each athlete as he or she stood upon that medal podium and heard the national anthem of his or her country being played. For a few days every four years the world comes together, often forgetting the politics and turmoil of the times, and celebrates in a spirit of good competition.

But the success of the Olympics is not the events themselves, but the stories of those who are competing. Some athletes come to the Olympics knowing that there is no possible chance for a medal. Their national anthem will never be heard. Yet they come. Why? Because these are the Olympic games and it is an honor to represent your country, even if but for one moment. Yet, there is always that possibility...as remote as it might seem...when the favorites will stumble and the door will be opened for an unknown face to rise to the top.

What makes for a successful Olympic athlete? First, there is the vision or dream which propels them forward. Each athlete, years before, envisions themselves competing with an exclusive group known as Olympians. This vision then produces a hunger and a desire to do whatever is necessary in order to enter that stadium on opening night dressed in the colors of his or her country. Every day, year after year, there remains this vision. Through the times of disappointment and heartbreak, there still is this vision. Through the gruelling hours of training and the strains of discipline, there is this vision. These athletes are driven by their vision. Second, there is the commitment to the training, the discipline, the denials, the hardships, and the sacrifices to accomplish that vision. A person does not suddenly awaken one morning and say, "I think I will compete in the Olympics this year." Most of these athletes have trained and strained and trained some more year after year after year.

As I have watched these athletes and have heard many of their stories, I have observed some truths for the Church today. The key to success is that vision, that dream. Sadly many churches today have only a vision of survival. What happened to dreaming big dreams? I had dinner with a pastoral colleague last evening and he shared with me that the leaders in his church are believing that their church could attain a membership of 500 in the next ten years...this within a community of 1200 people. Is it attainable? I don't know, but I applauded this pastor and his people for dreaming big dreams. Solomon wrote these words: where there is no vision, the people perish. May I paraphrase: Where there is no vision, churches falter and die. I like to challenge church leaders with this question: What will your church be like five years from now? If you cannot answer that question, then I doubt your church will succeed. And I also need to respond to that question as the leader of the Village Schools ministry.

The second observation is that of focus and commitment. Friends, ministry does not come easily. In fact, Jesus told us it would be difficult. Ministry is borne upon the altars of sacrifice, more sacrifice, and even more sacrifice. I remember a lady who served in our church while I was pastoring in Chicago. Her name was Ruth. She was already a grandmother. And her ministry was the kindergarten children. That was her focus. She was careful not to let other ministry opportunities - as good as they were - to cause her to lose that focus. Each of those children was loved as if they were her own grandchildren. Each was treated as if they were the only children in the church. And she was heart-broken when she had to miss a Sunday - which rarely happened. Where is our commitment to ministry today?

Why should we care? Have you seen the faces of those who mount that medal stand? There is a glow that surrounds them. Their dreams have been fulfilled. They hear the words of their coaches saying, "Well done. Good job." Friends, the day is coming when you and I will stand before our Savior anxiously hoping to hear similar words: "Well done, good and faithful servant. Go and enjoy what I have prepared for you." Will I then receive a gold medal? A silver one? Or a bronze one? I want to be like the Apostle Paul who told the Corinthians that he wanted to run to win. I want to represent Jesus Christ well. How about you?