Pastor's Posting

Olympic Losers

The winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, were complete this past Sunday evening. I enjoy the games somewhat more than the summer games because of events like luge and curling...NOT!

Who thought of those events? And what about the two-man luge? What was going on the first time a guy turned to his friend while waiting his turn on the luge run and said, "Wanna try riding down with me?" Or, who pushed the first curling rock and said, "This is great! Let's see if we can get a trip to the Olympics with this game! We'll call it curling so they will never figure out we're just pushing rocks across the ice." Oh well, the alpine skiing, bobsleding and speed skating made up for the non-sports mentioned above.

Kim and I watched as much of the games as we could together. We finally settled down to watch about the same time as the ice dancing and speed skating, which were sprinkled with Super G or slalom runs on the slopes. We soon began to comment on how the commentators talked about the Americans who did not win gold.

Here's an observation that fit the mood of the commentators:

The American team ended up winning more medals than ever before in a non-American winter Olympics, just behind Germany and just ahead of Canada. But you would never have known about this success because much of the commentary focused on athletes that didn't live up to expectations, misbehaved or did both. (SouthCoastToday.com)

The focus seemed to be more on Michelle Kwan's withdrawal, the stumbling silver medal for Sasha Cohen, and the boring bronze by the women's ice hockey team, and worst of all, Bodie Miller's 0-5 showing for the US Ski Team than on those who showed up to compete. You would think the USA had suffered its worst losses since Pearl Harbor and that Bodie Miller was responsible for the Japanese raid even before he was born!

Why did we feel things were so bad in Torino?

Is it being second that's so horrible? Is making the team and representing your country enough? Is only winning 25 medals after USA won 34 at the last games mean everything is falling apart? What about Shaun White's gold, or Shani Davis' gold (What about the sideshow between Shani and Chad Hedrick, which reminded me of our daughters when they were in the eighth grade and got mad at their cheerleading friends), or Julia Mancuso's gold in the giant slalom, or Hannah Teter's halfpipe gold? Why is silver and bronze so bad? What's so horrible about being 34th?

One of the things that makes America great is our constant quest to be the best. I'm proud that is part of our psyche...until it keeps us from enjoying the experience for the experience itself. I figure just making the US team was medal enough, and I bet everyone of our athletes went over there to win. But, when they didn't, we don't need to deport them to Cuba or paint a scarlet L (Loser) on their foreheads.

I guess being the best drives me most crazy when the same attitude about winning seeps over into our faith. (No, I'm not bitter because Benny Hin has ridden on the Concord and I haven't.) When "winning is everything" spills over into faith, then the losses, hurts and disappointments make us feel like God has abandoned us and he is only friends to winners; which is one reason you will want to stay tuned to The Recovery Channel on Sunday mornings.

Paul, my biblical hero after Jesus, proudly acknowledged his weaknesses because that was when God did his best work, and he boasted that he had learned to be content in every situation because he could do all things through he who strengthened him. He gladly considered all of his accomplishments loss when compared to Jesus' greatness.

I watch the Olympics for the Olympic's sake. I pull for the underdog and get a lump in my throat when our national anthem is played. I love it when an athlete falls exhausted on the ground after a run because he has left it all on the hill.

But, I will not let the "winner takes all" philosophy rob me of the reality that life is worth living no matter the color of the medal I wear around my neck or if I have simply been given the opportunity to play and go home with nothing more than a bruised knee.

I feel better now. How about you?

Posted by Gene Wilkes at February 28, 2006 08:20 PM