Medal Hunt

Just like a significant portion of the rest of the world, I watched the spectacle that was the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And just like everybody else, I watched in sheer amazement as swimmer-extraordinaire Michael Phelps blew by the rest of the field and set one world record after another. I’m sure as the years pass I will always remember 2008 as the Olympics year that Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals; but most of the specifics will be lost in my memory. However, one specific moment will not. The epoch in time from when Jason Lezak made the turn for the final 50 meters of the 4x100m freestyle relay to the instant he touched the wall just 0.08 seconds ahead of France’s Alain Bernard will be burned in my memory banks forever. These 46 seconds of history will rank right up there on my All Time Greatest Moments in Sports History list along with the USA Olympic Hockey team’s gold medal in 1980. The individual effort put forth by Jason Lezak to break his personal best by 1.5 seconds and at the same time overtake the current world record holder was truly a feat that defied logic. It was a team effort. Each swimmer that preceded Jason, including Michael, had to do just exactly what they did for the team to win that Gold. Anything less and all four of them would have been standing to the right of and one step lower than the French team on the medal stand.

It irritated me to no end to hear the media ask the US team questions after the race and in the days that followed like, “So what does it feel like to help Michael Phelps break the record of 7 gold medals in one Olympics?” That race was not about Michael Phelps. It was about a team doing things together that they never could have individually. When asked what the greatest moment was in his quest for 8 gold medals, Michael Phelps didn’t hesitate to identify the 4x100m relay. Although, individual athletic accomplishments can also be rewarding and inspiring, nothing can match the feeling and reward of a well-fought team effort. The Bible agrees.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecc 4:9-12)

I enjoyed watching Michael Phelps accomplish the seemingly impossible. I do hope, however, that the team effort accomplished by the US Men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team will not be lost in the pages of history.

Friends Come & Go... and Come Again!

Just a quick post to mention a minor incident that happened just the other day… I was searching on the Internet, looking for origins of my last name. When I added my first name I got an interesting result. One of the sites I found was a friend’s blog that linked to my blog. On his site was a comment… Someone had seen my name on his site and remembered my name from some 30+ years prior – when I was in 7th grade. It turns out it was my best friend from that time period in my life! Keep in mind, I was an Air Force brat so I moved around my whole childhood and adolescence. As a result, I had a lot of “best friends” and usual a new one about every two years. I had not heard from Scott since we were friends in Wichita Falls, Texas over 30 years ago! We connected on e-mail and are going to try to keep in touch.

This incident just brings to mind this whole idea of friendship. Even beyond my childhood days of moving from place to place, it still seems like I have seen friends come and go. Interests change, new friends are made… life happens. Good friends grow apart some times. I am convinced that God moves people in and out of our lives depending on the season. As Christians, we are always where we are for a reason – that includes the people that are around us. Cherish the friends you have when you have them. Don’t wait until you’re apart to recognize and appreciate that God has placed them there for a reason. On the other hand, don’t mourn close friendships that grow apart. Recognize God’s provision and blessing on a certain season of your life – and thank Him for it. I’m not saying to give up on old friendships, but simply to take them for what they are at that time. Again, have a spirit of thankfulness to the God who provides all we need and who is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph 3:20).

I am very thankful that at this point in our lives God has given us good, faithful friends that have stood the test time. I am also thankful for the new friends we have made in recent years. Finally, I am most thankful that God has given me “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Prov 18:24)! Thank you, Jesus!