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Seeing God in the Olympic Games

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The VOICE of Inspiration

By Don Lindsey

Being a sports fan, I've always loved the Olympics. Two-plus weeks of sports and it didn't matter if it was the summer or winter games, one thing was to be sure, I would be glued to the television from the opening ceremonies until the events were over.

When I was younger, it was all about the athletic competition. I can still remember hearing Al Michaels asking me if I believed in miracles, a line that gave me chills just thinking back to it. I remember the '92 men's basketball team chocked full of my favorite NBA players slaying everyone in their path and then seeing all of these guys who were my idols standing on stage accepting their gold medals with tears of pride in their eyes. I have fond memories over my lifetime of these awesome sporting moments, but as I was watching the opening ceremony with my wife and daughter last night, I realized that in all of the years I have watched these games, I'd missed the most important thing.

God's influence.

The more I think about it, the more embarrassed I become. It was right there the whole time in the majestic beauty of the host country and allowed me to see the breathtaking scenery of these places without leaving my house. It was in the graceful movements of the competitors and the sportsmanship these people would show when helping fellow athletes cross finish lines or overcoming diversity to win for their country. These games have shown time and time again that as humans, we can compete at the highest levels against each other and still show love and respect towards each other. Sure, there has been cheating and spitefulness, but the examples of good behavior outweigh any of the negative examples I have seen over the years.

At some point last night as we were watching the event, I looked to my right at my daughter who was sitting next to me and saw wonder, excitement and awe in her eyes as the performance unfolded in front of us. Being a big fan of oriental culture, she was thoroughly impressed and was making a point to explain aspects of the show to me that went over my head. It was then that I saw God again in the way that He was bringing my family and me together to watch His awe-inspiring creations play out on our T.V screen. Now that I'm looking for it, I see our Lord everywhere in these games, and it's making the viewing experience much more enjoyable.

Even at this moment, I'm sitting here typing away, while I watch curling. Now, I have no idea how this game is played, and I've watched it a lot over the last four decades. However, where before I just saw a game that I didn't understand, I now see how graceful these folks are, and I am impressed with how they glide up and down the ice chasing a rock. It turns out, there is a quite a bit of precision that goes into this game, and I no longer see it as a boring contest that I need to watch to pass the time until hockey starts. Even in curling, God can be found, and that's the biggest lesson I take away from this, He's everywhere, and all you need to do is look for Him.

God Bless.

Don Lindsey is a follower of Christ, son, husband, father, and a survivor. Originally from Dayton Ohio, and resident of Apopka for six years, Don sees his life as a dedication to his wife, parents, children, and community.

Don Lindsey, Inspiration

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