The sad and honest truth is that I love to write, yet tonight when I felt the urge to return to this page, that I have seldom visited in the last several months, I could not remember my password in order to create another post…  embarrassing, but true and should truly require me handing in my “blogger card” and shut down the site.  Thank goodness there aren’t any “blogger police” out there checking the activity (or lack there of) on site such as this that are dreadfully neglected.

I love the Olympics… I could be considered an addict (if there was such a thing).  But I am an Olympics junky none-the-less (don’t ask me how to score the sports though or why some Judges are harsher than others, I just like to watch, I’m not an expert on anything).

Part of what I love about the Olympics is the amazing things the human body can do.  The tone and strength, the height and flexibility that these young athletes achieve through dedication and hours of hard work is astonishing.  One of my favorite parts of the Olympics is the opening ceremonies…I know, it’s a show, no athleticism necessary, but here’s why:  Every nation, every color, every language, body type, hair color, gender walk into the stadium and there is a sense of awe.  The spectacle is almost too much to take in.  The faces of the athletes are glowing with wonder and a childlike surprise and excitement as they walk in to crowds of people cheering them on, chatting their names.  I love this picture of Honor.

As I watched last Friday, I was struck by the enormous celebration this was for these athletes and the honor the crowd cheered out and we at home cheered out as we watched their faces envelope the moment.  This is a shadow of what it will be like when we enter into heaven~ I believe that the awe on our faces will keep us from uttering a word, except for the need to run into Jesus’ arms, I don’t think our legs would carry us because of the mind-blowing brilliance.  

These athletes have put off everything except for one thing, to WIN the gold.  They sacrifice and do the hard things when they don’t really feel like it.  And the moment they walk down into that arena the crowd cheers them on.  They seem to say, “great work”, “well done”, “We’re so proud of you”.  What we do in ministry requires the same type of dedication and diligence.  It requires perseverance and endurance to finish well.  But we are not alone and we don’t have to do it by ourselves.  God has given us His Holy Spirit, who lives inside us, to help us, to teach us and to intercede for us.  We can run toward the incredible goal He has laid out before us because He is the power driving us forward!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

So from one very bad blogger, press on, finish strong, finish well and listen for the crowds in the stands cheering you on!