I'm An Olympic Junkie

Ok, I confess, I'm an olympic junkie. When the games begin, I announce to the family that I'm interested only in track and field. But by the end of the first day, I'm hooked. I'm watching competition in sports that aren't even sports. Rafting? Really? I'm still mourning the loss of women's softball. Now that is a real sport!

Out of the olympics come some of the greatest stories. I especially like and have used as an sermon illustration, the story about Derek Redmond.

The 1992 Olympics in Barcelona featured memorable moments of sports history. Derek Redmond of Great Britain was on the way to fulfilling a lifetime dream, that of winning a gold medal in the Olympics. He had earned a spot in the semifinals of the 400 meter race, and as the gun sounded to start the race, Derek got off to a great start. He was running the race of his life, and the finish line was in sight, when suddenly he felt a stab of pain in his right leg. He fell face first to the track with a torn hamstring. The race was over for him.

He struggled to his feet before the medical team could reach him. Though every runner had passed him, he began hopping forward, tears of pain and disappointment streaking his face, determined to finish the race. Suddenly, a man plowed through the security guards on the sidelines and ran onto the track.

He raced up to Derek and hugged him, "You don;t have to do this," Jim Redmond told his weeping son.
"Yes I do," Derek answered.
"Well, then," his father said, "we’re going to finish the race together."

Derek’s father gripped his son around the shoulders, and they faced the finish line, resolutely waving off the security men who hovered around them. They limped and hopped together, Derek’s head sometimes buried in his father’s shoulder, and stayed in Derek’s lane all the way to the end.

The watching crowd gasped at first at the unusual scene. Then one by one, they rose to their feet, and began cheering and crying at the son’s determination and the father’s support.

I suspect every father watching this event had tears running down his cheeks. I know I did.

Perhaps you're now waiting for me to suggest a spiritual analogy here. There are a dozen or so analogies I could suggest to you--all biblically supported. But nope, not going to do it. I'll let you come up with your on.

I'm going back to the tube to watch olympics.