As the Olympics have been going on, I have loved the stories
of the journeys of the athletes and learning what all was required of them to “go
for the gold.” The media is also
reporting about the effect of the Olympics on young children as they now become
dreamers of being the next Michael Phelps or Gabby Douglas. I have to admit, I have not moved to
the level of wanting to go that far, but I do have such respect for the
commitment and sacrifice of these athletes!
This past Sunday, my indwelling Friend, the Holy Spirit,
began a conversation with me in my heart about my level of commitment and
sacrifice I have currently and even the willingness to go further with Him. (Can
you say “meddling?”)
He began by drawing such a parallel in an Olympic athlete
and the Christian’s life. When a
young person begins the process of training for the Olympics, the circumstances,
training, and even the coaching are more of a fun or joyful type setting.
Perhaps, this would be the stage of desiring more than dreaming or committing.
The level of understanding experientially is not that deep! (Experience is the key word.) As the training gets more intense, the
requirements and testing increase.
The coaching becomes more individualized, the diet is increasingly
restrictive, and even the life of the athlete no longer belongs to
himself. Basically, the Olympian
is not his own any longer. He belongs to another’s ways, thoughts, system…you
get the picture! The journey has
changed considerably and many drop out, become injured, distracted, or decide
the Olympic path is way too costly. (“If I had known this would be so hard or I
would be expected to do this, I would not have signed on for the training.”)
By now, you may see where the Holy Spirit was taking me in my
heart conversation with Him. The
Christian life has certainly changed over the years as I have traveled and
trained with the Lord! The ante
has definitely been upped! The
Coaching, distractions, diet, restrictions have intensified, and my heart has been
changed from the night Christ came into my life! I had no idea where this relationship would take me when we
began together, but I knew I was all in! It has been a thirty-five year
relationship full of joy, fear, failure, rescue, forgiveness, do-overs,
trusting, doubting, hope, peace, patience, surprises. Basically, He has been
the faithful One, the steady One, the Leader of my life. I can’t imagine taking me on as a new
creature in Christ. I am thankful
my Coach did not and will not dismiss me when I am not as committed or faithful
to Him and His ways as I should be. I
do greatly desire to “finish the race marked out for me” and to hear “Well done
my good and faithful servant, enter into your rest” when my spiritual Olympic
life is over. But even as late as
last night, I found myself and my Coach talking about the next level of
training, and I was saying in my heart, “Please don’t ask me to do that or make
me go there.” Not very Olympic!
But, once again, He is faithfully and patiently working with me to give
me the courage and surrender of heart to obey and not fear.
This Olympic spiritual heart wants the gold, does not want
to settle for “just getting there.” I want to hear the anthem “Victory in Jesus”
played when I finish the race and come before the One who got me there.
I am so honored
to represent Him as He sends me to participate daily in the events of this life.
The closing ceremonies are looking more and more exciting!
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