Ode to Olympians
I love the Olympics. I should really say I love the Olympic athletes. Yes the Olympics for providing the platform, but the Olympians for providing pure inspiration.
To me there is something pretty spectacular about dedicating years of your life to the hope of one thing. Mothers and Fathers dedicate their lives to the hope of raising children that will do something and be something. Employees dedicate their lives to certain jobs hoping to climb the corporate ladder. Musicians dedicate their lives to their crafts, hoping that the sound of their gift will bring joy to someone. Chemists dedicate their lives to the hope of one day creating the cure that could change this world. I could go on and on with how lots of people dedicate their lives to something for the hope of something. But right now, I want to focus on our Olympic athletes. Many train from the time they can walk to swim or run or hurdle or throw. Many leave the familiar place called home to work their gift and develop it.
What I find so unique is that they put so much into one opportunity that only comes along every four years. A point of a second could make the difference between 1st place and a thank you for coming. At any moment one slight misstep could sever your chance and you have to wait another four years. One little thing could change everything in the bat of an eye. But you know what…this is the part I love. They do it anyway. They work as hard as ever, they train with all their might. They give their all as if this is their last opportunity. Olympians show us how we should live. They train for something that only happens every four years every day. They prepare now to win later. They give their all and we cheer them on. From thousands of miles away, we root for them. Proud that they gave their all for this one chance on the world stage.
I will forever have Mary Lou Retton, Greg Louganis, Mike Phelps, Angelo Taylor, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Flo-Jo, Dominique Dawes and so many others etched in my heart. When I want to give up because of little things, or if one thing tries to throw me off track of my goals…I pull out a mental picture of them with their arms stretched over their head, with huge smiles on their faces and various colored metals around their necks. A reminder that I can do it. It’s not easy, but it can be done. It’s going to take hard work, but I can make it. It’s going to take faith like never before, but it’s possible if I only believe.
I can’t help but think of one of my favorite scriptures in the amplified version…
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. (Philippians 4:13)
God really did create something magnificent when He created mankind. He gave us beautiful minds, amazing abilities, tangible talents, and a measure of faith to all to do the magnificent things He places on our heart to do.
I salute our athletes who over the next 17 days will live their dreams, conquer their fears, become legacy leaders, pave the roads on which many will travel, try, fall, encourage, inspire, get back up, try again, succeed, win and become forever etched in the pages of our history. I salute each and every one of you and I say thank you for believing in your dreams enough to chase them for however long it takes to have one chance to stand on the world’s stage and succeed. To you I say thank you and God bless you as you live your dreams!
Lady AEA 