Heat is in the danger zone this week in Lake Woebegone. So what does one do when they can’t go outside without dying of heart failure? Television – old movies – old tv shows or THE OLYMPICS. I’ve been tuning in off and on this week, and much like the NFL or NBA or any of the other sporting events, we have a team of “experts” telling us if these amazing athletes are going to fulfill their duty to God and country and bring home a medal for the good old USA.

I am glad this event is finally happening. I’m sad about there not being an audience to cheer these athletes on. I’m sad that the support of their home country is clouded by unpatriotic behavior. I’m also sad that all the things back home are being injected into the world and showing us in a different light this year. We’ve all been subject to a world pandemic. We know what it’s like to have those things we prize taken away for a while. We understand the frustration of everyone involved. Yet so often, when our ambition is put on hold (for our own good) we feel cheated and need to blame someone or something.

What’s happening in our country right now is a decline in patriotism, to the point of disdain. How we appear to other nations is important in the scheme of things. What do we look like to our neighbors in the world? We’re all faced with challenges each day. We’re running a race to get to the finish line and win the prize, but often the prize is what’s pushing us. Jesus knew what His mission would be when He entered human flesh and became one of us. He knew He had to suffer and die on our behalf. He was the perfect, unblemished lamb called for in Old Testament. He overcame death and won the prize – not for Himself, but for the entire population of humanity. He didn’t have to take on our baggage, but He did, because He loves us. His humility, compassion and love should be an example for all of us.

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Are you a winner? If you believe that Jesus is your Redeemer, you definitely are.