An Open Letter to the Olympic watcher who is a sports watching poser

 

I have always wanted to start a blog post with the title An Open Letter to….  Well, not really, but I crack up when I read that in the title.  Usually, it’s about something controversial, and well I run far and fast from everything controversial because I HATE conflict.

But I felt like I needed to make a true confession here, and therefore felt it would be fun to write you an open letter that’s not really a letter at all.

I wonder if there is anyone else like me?  I NEVER watch sports.  Frankly, I don’t understand them.  I love that people do love them.  No judgement here.  Whatever makes you come alive.

But I am not one of those people.  I am non-sports water.

BUT friends, I am Olympics OBSESSED.

I have not had a tv since college.  Again, not judging those who do have a tv. I just am too cheap for cable and have Netflix on my laptop so I have been ok.  But I have been out of the country for the last two summer Olympics and this year wanted to watch them so badly.  I did not pay attention that you could only preview the Olympics for a short time if you didn’t have a cable log-in, so I used up all my minutes watching women’s weightlifting the first night.  Would have picked a different sport if I knew.

But my parents gave me an old tv and I found out I have cable and so well, I pretty much have been parked in my living room watching the Olympics which is why I have not blogged since they started.  

I am a #sportswatchingposer

I have watched water polo and been worn slap out.  I have pretended as I watched the women’s gymnastics team that I could even do a cartwheel, which I cannot.

I  have watched them fly across the track in track and field and remembered the time I flew  barely crawled across my own marathon finish line.  The winner of the marathon had already gone home to their host country and had a party by the time I finished in fact.

I have watched diving and remembered my one time having to dive off the high dive to graduate swimming lessons.

Can we say the most beautifully executed belly flop ever, after having stood at the top of the rungs of the ladder for an ETERNITY.. Jesus almost came back in the waiting.

I teared up watching the US Beach Volleyball Ladies miss their chance for gold last night and thought about my attempts at volleyball which lead to me making a sound like a pterodactyl and the volleyball never going over the net. It’s so much fun to watch those who have trained and trained and trained give everything they have to the game.

I love watching their coaches cheer them on, even joining in their disappointments.

I love watching the sportsmanship , and well, for at least these two weeks watching all the negativity on facebook about the world and race and politics seem to stop and we all just celebrate hard work and training and ability even when we don’t win.

I love watching the hurdle jumpers.  I mean really. I cannot even imagine.  I make quite a scene trying to jump out of bed in the morning over the clothes I have not quite seemed to get to the hamper the night before.

Can I encourage you for a second?  Living in this world is a competition.  It is a competition between our sinful flesh and the Spirit of God that lives inside of you if you are a believer.

And sometimes, if we are honest, it feels like the sinful fleshly side is winning.

Or we compare ourselves to the other Christians in the game, and just do not feel like we are winning.

But we have a coach that is in it for us to win it.  Because well, He already won it.  

Jesus put himself into this competition called life.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–but did not sin.

I love the Jesus is not coaching us in a game He didn’t already play.  And win.

He was crucified on a cross for our sin, and it looked like death may have won the game.  For three days.

But one the third day, He rose again.

GOLD!! 

I want to listen to that coach’s voice.  The one who loved me enough to get in the game.

Who wants me to win because He has already won.

I don’t want to listen to the voice of the critics.  The enemy who says things like

• give up
• you won’t win
• look at the others in the competition they are so much better
• you are not enough
• you don’t matter
• you are your fears
• ect ect ect

Hebrews 12:2 Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith.  He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him, and now is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.

Sincerely, (since this was supposed to be an open letter)

#sportswatchingposer

Ps: I am linking up with my friend Holley Gerth for coffee for your heart Wednesday.  Be sure to visit her.