Word from Wiese

Olympic Motivations

Olympic Motivations

28 July 2021

Dear Friends in Faith,

The Christ Our Shepherd Usher Team asked me to show a picture of the new usher outfits they’ve selected to wear for Fall of 2021. So here you go:

In addition to the new outfits, usher coordinator Bob Spruck tells me that while furloughed due to Covid, usher recruits have been doing crunches, push-ups, and sprints like crazy, ready to be in top form to direct us to Communion, pass offering plates, and hand out worship guides with extreme efficiency when they come back to worship leadership.  Ah . . . just joking of course.

Actually, in the picture we see members of the USA Olympic swim team ready for Tokyo competition.  The picture depicts proof of Olympian strategy. Not only do key muscles need to be developed, but bodies need to be streamlined, with not only swimcaps but super-sleek suits.  Apparently, these Speedo “Fastkind” suits have been worn by more than half of all world record-breaking swimmers since the launch of the line in 2019.  This year, three new fabrics were designed to help improve even further flexibility, compression and drag reduction.

Similarly, as Jesus followers, as we will hear in our Ephesians lesson this Sunday, certain behaviors are sure to drag us down like swimming with boots on: lying, anger, holding grudges, hurtful language, and refusing to share (Ephesians 4.25-29). But Coach Paul encouragingly points out Jesus-like commitments even more empowering than a Speedo Fastskin:  kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness (Eph. 4.32).

Consider a second picture.  As I did, maybe Sunday night you saw this swimcap on South African swimmer, Tatjana Schoenmaker.  Can you read what it says? “Soli Deo Gloria,” or in English, “Glory to God alone,” a life-view used by artists like Bach and Handel.

On her Twitter feed, swimmer Tatjana describes herself in many ways, but FIRST she lists “Child of God” with a red heart emoji. How about that? This Olympian who has dedicated her whole life to swimming sees all her radically immense efforts within the context of her Christian faith. First and foremost, she knows she is God’s child. So, striving to succeed at the Olympics is NOT a way to prove herself or earn her worth. She already knows she’s God’s beloved daughter. Her swimming is a way she glorifies God within the context of faith and joy. Just as Pastor Miriam reminded us last Sunday that runner Eric Liddell said his 1924 gold-medal winning run was for “God’s pleasure.” Liddell shared that running for the Paris Olympic prize was fun, but his ultimate focus was running the Lord’s race.

Any Olympics is bound to have controversy. Which controversies in Tokyo have caught your ear? If you come this Sunday to church, you’ll hear a controversy from 1st century Israel that overshadows anything we hear out of 21st century Tokyo. What was it? Come this Sunday to find out!

Praying for an Olympic-like faith with you,
Pastor Fritz