gold und silber

The Olympics are fascinating.

They are full of instruction on moral issues, to name a few: modesty, diligence, integrity, humility--and all their negatives. It's almost a shock to see where figure skating costumes have come since I was a little girl cuddling with my mom and sister, rooting for Victor Petrenko and Kristi Yamaguchi. Pairs skating and ice dancing are almost obscene. It's embarrassing to watch ice skating events in mixed company.

Diligence isn't always rewarded. Athletes work nonstop for their entire lives for Olympic medals--but someone always finishes last. Or fourth. And someone less talented than you or lazier than you could swoop in and easily win the gold. Just because you work hard doesn't mean you have earned or deserve a medal.

Integrity is required and mandated. Cheaters are not allowed to win...in theory. It would be interesting to see behind the scenes where no one knows to poke and see what sort of cheating, deceiving, and manipulating goes into Olympic preparations.

Humility is often feigned, but rarely practiced. How many athletes are brazen in their claims of self-determinism? Over and over come the claims that nothing can stop me, I can do anything, I'm in charge of my destiny. There's a heavy Invvictusly arrogant spirit that dwells in the heart of fallen man. We want to rebel against God and claim our independence. If we fail, it will be on our terms and in our way, whereas the truth is that our days have been ordained by God, and our talents and abilities are given to us by God. Athletes are athletes because of God's grace, when they could just as easily be paraplegics or klutzes or impoverished and without resources. The arrogance and self-credit with which most participants pat themselves on the back in either appreciation or sympathy is revolting to the Christian worldview.

The Olympics are helpful to me. Don't imitate.