Watching the Olympics you see people who speak a different language, eat different food, live in a different climate, have different customs, have different racial characteristics and music and daily habits, all working at the same goal. Some of the athletes seem obnoxious, and some sweet. And while the Games go on, despite the national pride which keeps score of medals won, and which makes some nations harness scarce resources to cultivating a crop of contenders, there is a sense that this is one world, after all. We take to heart the brave little gymnasts, whatever their home, and we marvel at the stamina and skill of those fastest on the track, no matter what their origins. So run that you may obtain it.
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.
They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So that one parallel between the Olympic ideal and World-Wide Communion is recognizing a different way of identifying ourselves than racial or political or national. For the athletes, athleticism provides a sense of self which transcends boundaries. For Christians, our common purpose and pursuit is in fashioning selves true to our calling. Wherever we were born, wherever we now reside, we have our home in heaven, and we have as our hope the goal of being worthy of the redemption Christ has achieved for us.