I've been a big fan of the Olympics for as long as I can remember. I especially enjoy the winter games. I don't really know why. I can't ski, skate, or do anything else remotely athletic on snow or ice. I'm lucky to keep myself from falling. And maybe that's the point: I enjoy watching these Olympic athletics excel in areas where I struggle to simply stand or walk.
I was watching the figure skating competition a few days ago. Jeremy Abbott, 28, the US skating champion, was attempting a "quad" jump when he fell--really, really hard. In fact, he slammed into the wall and lay still for several seconds clutching his side. The music continued to play in the background, but Jeremy lay perfectly still. Then slowly, painfully he stood up. And as he did, the crowd roared its encouragement. With a look of determination, Jeremy made his way back onto the ice, caught up with the music and completed his performance, hitting every trick. The ovation at the end of his skating was thunderous.
It was a very emotional and inspiring performance. I'm sure Jeremy's amazing comeback will be replayed again and again as an embodiment of the Olympic spirit. But I took away more than that. I took away two valuable life lessons.
First of all, life has its share of "falls." As flesh-and-blood human beings, we blow it. We fail. We make mistakes. But we don't have to let our falls define us. We can get back up. Like Jeremy, we can refuse to let a fall keep us down and, instead, we can keep moving forward and keep pursuing our dreams. I'm reminded of Paul's words in Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Second, never underestimate the power of encouragement. The crowd made it perfectly clear that it was standing behind Jeremy. As he struggled to his feet, unsure of whether to keep going or to simply give up, the crowd's applause was ringing in his ears. That's the power of encouragement. It emboldens us. It energizes us. It helps us to see beyond our falls. I thank God for all of the encouragers He has put in my life. And I pray that you'll look for opportunities in your own life to be an encourager for someone who has fallen and needs the strength to get back up.
It's good to know that the Olympics are more than just sporting events. The Olympics are full of the stuff of life. We can watch and be entertained, or we can watch and become better people...
;)
