Now that the Olypmics are over, there is nothing much more to look forward to except paralympic, which is in 2 weeks time. THe closing ceremony was spectacular although i taught the singing in greek was abit to the boring side. Nevertheless, watching the olympics was always one of my most favourite must watch events in four years. Really looking forward to the one in Beijing.
Well watching Olympics bring back memories. Everytime i watch a race, i always imagine myself running in the race, crossing the finishing line has always been something that i look upon too.
As always, there are some atheletes that i look up to during the olympics and it never fails every olympic. I admire the few atheletes that have touched the hearts of many. Sport does bring out the good and the bad side of human nature. 12 dozens atheletes were tested positive for drugs. Aussie rower Sally robins, gave up rowing half way through the race letting her whole team down. If i were her team members, i would have been furious and probably throw her off the boat. BUt although the team mates were angry and upset yet they face the media together as a team, holding a conference of apology.
The iraqi's footballer who shone in the olympics coming in fourth after losing to paraquay. They have come so far. After being rejected entry into the olympics, they din lose heart, yet they fought bravely, and perserverance paid off. 2 months before the games begun, they were allowed to participate. The fought bravely at every single game, they din give up. The spectators cheered for them as they advanced to each game with pride, with courage. They were their country's pride and my heros. (a tribute to them were shown on tv too. REally touching!)
Nevertheless, there was Robina, the first Afghanistan woman to compete in the 100m race. I admire her courage to run the race. ALthough she was so tiny beside all the other people, although she came in last in her race, but she was made history. She was Brave Heart!
Yanna pittma, who endured and perservered and fought hard in her 400m hurdle race. With a knee operation just 2 weeks before the olympics, she endured the pain and complete the race.
El Guerrouj, the star of the year. Won 2 gold medals in the long distance race. Looks like He is the pride of Morroco. A dark horse whose name wasn't even remembered much less winning any medal before. He showed that you don't have to be big to win the race.
The hungarian swimmer who came in 8th (i think) in one of the swimming events in Sydney olympics who had vowed to win a gold medal in Athens got his dream.
Last but not least, the hero of all hero, who had showed great sportsmanship. Brazil marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima who came in third. He was pushed while running his last lap by a insane priest. Because of that, he lost his gold medal and emerged third winning as well a medal of fair play. His determination didn't stop me from winning a medal. He got back on his feet, he didn't resent, he didn't gave up. He continued his race. He finished the race. He won! No obstacles could stop him from reaching the medal.
There were more than a 1000 participants but only 301 gold medals. Many left unrewarded for their hard work. Winners celebrated with their love ones, the rest were consoled by their loved ones too. Sports can bring out the grace in people, yet in can bring out the evil in human nature too. With so little medals and so many participants, why do people still want to participate knowing that they will not win. Quoted by Braon Pierre de coubertin "the important in life is not the triumph but the fight, the essential thing is not to have won but fought well."
A christian walk is the same as a race in olympic. Except everyone is a winner. Everyone gets a gold medal at the end of the day. ALthough the walk is tough with obstacles that lie ahead stumbling us, yet let us learn from the athletes to get back on our feet and run the race with perserverance and faith. God wants us to be winners, all of us. ALthough the race may seem tough, yet let us not be discourages. When we lose in a race, our loved ones will come running to us, comforting us. How much more will our father in heaven comfort us. How much more will our father be there with us. How much more will our father love us and hold our hand. How much more will he carry us through every obstacle, encouraging us and holding our hand as we run the race. Like in a race, we are never running or competiting along. We are never running the race of god alone! Let us stand strong in our faith and run the race with perserverance and faith. Let us never stop running till we reached the finishing line. Let us uplift one another as we run this race together, hand in hand. Let us encourage one another never to give up.
Hebrews 12: 1-2 "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 tangles, and let us run with perserverance the race marked our for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
I want to run this race. I want to learn from the atheletes their never dying spirit. I want to learn their perserverance and courage. I want to run this race.

Will you run this race with me?