Search for the phrase “post-Olympic blues,” and you’ll find plenty of write-ups about the state of depression that sets in after the flame of the summer games flickers out.
And it’s not just the athletes who must navigate the descent from the highs of the quadrennial competition. After two weeks of the amazing displays of athletic prowess the world witnessed in Paris, many fans and viewers are also left to wonder, “What now?”
While some may point to the controversies as reasons to tune out, personally, I, like so many, couldn’t help but watch in awe.
On the one hand, the games symbolize not just athleticism at its finest, they also teach us lessons about dedication, sacrifice, and support systems; resilience and perseverance; and the power of the mind and body as well as a premium on the value of teamwork.
Those lessons made it easy to cheer for the expected gold medalists and breakout stars alike. While unabashedly pro-Team USA, those same values served as a reason to cheer even when America’s finest athletes failed to earn a spot on the medal platform.
But there was something deeper to appreciate this time around, beyond the parade of athletic events with the beautiful backdrop of Paris’s iconic landmarks and breathtaking city views.
First, it provided a much-needed break from the grinding and unyielding reminders that we’re in the middle of an election year. How nice to briefly escape with daily doses of physical exceptionalism while catching glimpses of peace and unity around the idea of sport.
From a spiritual standpoint, I continually returned to the thought that these people were, in many ways, doing what they were created to do. Like a bird soaring in the air, a rose bush blooming where it’s planted, or a brand-new car humming along at its highest speed, athletes from around the world showcased their mettle and ability.
Whatever sport I happened to catch, I couldn’t help but think of the following Psalms:
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! – 103:1 (The NIV replaces the phrase “all that is within me” with “my inmost being.”)
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. – 150:6
Maybe I’m over-spiritualizing? But I’m not the first to draw the parallel.
One hundred years ago, at the 1924 summer games, Eric Liddell – the famed Scottish sprinter whose life was portrayed in the 1981 film “Chariots of Fire” – made history with his record-breaking first-place finish in the 400-meter. Crazy to think that wasn’t his best event. He actually withdrew from his favored 100-meter race because it was scheduled on a Sunday when he had planned to attend church.
When asked about running, Liddell once said the following:
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.”
But that’s only part of the quote:
“You will know as much of God, and only as much of God, as you are willing to put into practice. Christ for the world, for the world needs Christ!”
