Olympic Gold

Living in Seattle right now is very exciting! The Olympics are right down the road, everyone talks about it, some co-workers even went on a whim and saw some events! Whew! I myself was unable to go, but it has been neat to see all the different ups and downs.

Thinking (as I always do) about the Olympics I was a bit jealous. All these cool young kids in the spotlight that I will never be in, corporate sponsorship, the flash and excitement, national television coverage, etc. "I want that too!" I say on the inside. There is a price though, and I want the glory without having to pay it. I think this is a typical human emotion, but maybe it's just me.

The Olympics very closely echo life. We go throughout our lives living very basic, daily, mundane existences. If you read anything about the speed skating team not only did they have grueling daily practices for 4 years, but they were also broke until Stephen Colbert helped them out. Think about that for a second. Grueling daily practices for 4 years. Giving everything you have in your young life, your education, goals, friends, family, excitement, entertainment, fun, etc for 4 unsexy, unfilmed, hard, thankless years. That is what it takes to be an Olympian though. You either make that sacrifice or forget Olympic dreams. They say it takes 10,000 hours to become the greatest at something. Sports, programming, finance, etc. 4 years, 6 days a week for 8 hours a day = 9,984 hours. That is what a gold medal costs. Oh and by the way there is no guarantee that you will get a gold just because you put in this time. That is just the minimum requirement. Still want to sign on?

I don't think I would have the patience to watch 4 years of training on TV, much less go through it! The thing is I want to be Stephen Colbert not the speed skating athletes. Stephen Colbert got funding for the Olympic speed skating team, was named as an Assistant Team Psychologist. As I understand it if you are on the team in any capacity you get a medal. Maybe I'm wrong but bear with me for sake of example. I want to do that! I just want to give a bit of cash and be amazing! I want to have things easy and still get something you have to work for. I don't want to put 10,000 hours into one thing and then still have to compete to win a prize, with no guarantees. Ouch!

This feeling also echos into my Christian life. People think you are really dedicated if you go to church on Sunday's and a mid week bible study. Take me for example. I became a Christian around 6 years old. Lets assume that I got a 1 hour service and a 3 hour midweek study in consistently since I was 6. (Now obviously there are times where I got more or less Bible, but stick with me.) That is 5,408 hours. Hey I am halfway to being an expert! If we assume that I put in 1 hour of personal study that ups it to 6,760. Thing is I probably haven't been that consistent or dedicated. It isn't like every Sunday I woke up chomping at the bit to go to Church. It isn't like I paid perfect attention at every Bible study I've been at. When you get right down to it people think I know a lot about the Bible, but if you compare it in human terms to Olympic athlete dedication I am pretty pathetic. I have been consistent in how I live life, but it isn't a pretty picture. It isn't Olympic in any area of life. Not even in dedication to God.

Paul in the Bible actually compares the Christian life to the Olympics. In 1 Cor 9:24-27 he sets forth that his Christian walk has been like an Olympic training session. That is how life is. The grueling daily workouts. The unsexy sweat and training for long periods of time, with no cheering crowd, no camera, and unsatisfied coaches. I am realizing the Christian life is like blue chip stock, Olympic training and farming. It is very daily, very mundane, very unsexy. Thing is it is very worth it. The Olympians and their prizes of today will fade, God's prize will not.

This isn't to paint a picture of works salvation. Please understand I believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again, because we are helpless sinners with no hope of salvation outside of Him. He is the one who loves us eternally and gives us the power to do anything. What I am saying is if you are a Christian, "What are you doing with the time God has given you?" "What am I doing with the time God has given me?" I get amazing love, grace and forgiveness from God, does it motivate me as much as the hope of Olympic gold, or do I take it for granted? I want my heart to be right and I don't think it is right now. I am motivated by flashy, sexy, easy, and cool. I need to be motivated by God's love.

How about you?