Thinking about the race

So I DVR'd (will that ever make the dictionary?) the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing. I have to say that they did an amazing job, spent a lot of money on imagery that went completely over my head and built the largest LED screen in the world which I have to admit to you I coveted...just for a minute...alright I still am trying to figure out how to get over there and steal it ;)

Between actually watching the parade of nations at 2x speed and normal there were a couple of comments that I found interesting.

-First was the fact that less than half of the nations participating in the games have ever actually won a medal. In Athens only 851 out of 2012 nations actually won a medal
That is kind of interesting. I know that it is probably my American pride talking, but the idea that our team wouldn't win at least one has never even entered into my mind.

-Building off of that fact the commentator said "for many of these athletes this parade is as far as their Olympic glory will go." Now he wasn't saying that in a mean way. He was simply calling attention to the fact that for many of these countries and their athletes they were not sending them with a great expectation of a medal but just as ambassadors at this great event.
While they won't go back home with medals around their neck they will go home to much the same excitement, fanfare and pride as the winners. The nations and people that they represent will be blessed by their efforts and participation.

While listening to Tony this weekend those statements really resonated as he was talking about staying faithful and the "great cloud of witnesses" who cheer us on.

Honestly in my heart I want to do something great, something that will be remembered by the masses for the Kingdom. I want to go home with a medal. The reality however, is this race is not about the medals. As Christ-followers we march through life just as those Olympic athletes marched through the stadium on Friday night with literally millions cheering us on.
At the end of the day God may have not sent me to have a Billy Graham size ministry. I may not ever stand on the podium. I just pray that at the end of the race, my faithfulness and participation will be enough for God to use me, to affect the group of people that He has sent me to.

1 Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. 2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. 3 When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
Hebrews 12:1-3 (MSG)

1-Olympic fact
2-Olympic fact