I love watching the Olympics. Not always for the sport – curling? really Canada? – but mostly for the personal stories. I am fascinated by what makes up an Olympic athlete. The talent, the skill, the training are all just a part of the person – not the whole story of what drove them to compete at the Olympic level. At some point in their lives, each athlete decided to forgo something, everything else, for the sport. I am in awe of this decision – the wholehearted nature of the full plunge into something.

I was watching NBC’s canned coverage of the Olympics last night (which by the way makes me angry -hate being the last to know the results just so NBC can show stuff in prime time and make extra $ off of commercials). Anyhow, I saw Maelle Rickerwin gold for Canada in women’s snowboard cross and it got me thinking. First of all, snowboard cross is INSANE! These ladies have some serious guts and they are amazing. Again though, it is the back story that makes it all so amazing. In the last Olympics, Maelle was airlifted off the course due to injury. Four years ago she left the games with a concussion, this time with the highest honor her sport can offer.

I see two things at play in this story that so translate to my walk with God. One is, never give up. I am pretty sure that helicopter ride out of Torino four years ago was a pretty dark moment but she didn’t make it her last. I want to be that person – the person who, in the darkest time, can keep the vision for the future. To see the goal ahead even when sitting on the sideline wondering if I will ever get back on course. That type of vision is a gift, a gift that I desperately want.

The other insight these athletes offer is the ability to “show up.” The difference between “being on the podium” and not, in these races is milliseconds. What drives an athlete to go into such a high stakes competition and have the ride/skate/run/swim/ etc. of their life? I am amazed by any professional athletes’ ability to perform at the level of excellence when it matters the most. When I played tennis in high school I was always better in practice than I was at a match. During the match I would get in my own head and defeat myself mentally. One double fault and you can pretty much guarantee I am going to loose the set. These Olympic athletes show up in a major way when everything is on the line. This is an amazing quality to possess.

When it matters, I want to be the person who comes through for my family, for myself. I want to win gold in my faithfulness to God. When all is stripped away, I want to still be committed. Committed to my marriage when it feels like its’ failing. Committed to my children when it seems like they just aren’t getting it. Committed to my job when it feels like it isn’t fulfilling. Committed to my friends when they let me down. I want to perform with God’s grace at my side in all aspects of my life, but especially when the stakes are high – when they are Olympic in nature.

As with any sport, my walk with God – my ability to show up – takes training. Time to strap on my running shoes and start the race.