It is How You Finish!!!! An Olympic Moment!

    Sharing Life---Connecting Journeys—Following Christ

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day…….2 Timothy 4:7

Given that we are watching the Winter Olympics on television now it seems fitting to recall a moment when character was on display for the whole world to see.  This is one of my personal favorites from an anthology of Olympic moments.

The year was 1968. The place was Mexico City, site of the 1968 Summer Olympic Games. It happened late one night in the main track and field stadium.  Out of that cold darkness. John Stephen Akhwari from Tanzania entered the stadium. He hobbled slowly and unsteadily. Pain filled his every step. Blood ran down his bandaged leg. His dreams of Olympic glory had long since faded into the shadows of the night.

    More than an hour earlier, the winner of the Olympic marathon had already been declared. The other finishers began streaming across the line slowly thereafter. By the time Akhwari approached the stadium, only a few spectators remained in their seats. There was no one cheering, no flag waving. Yet the lone runner pressed on.

    As he neared the Olympic stadium, word circulated that there was one runner still struggling to compete the 26.2 mile course. Other Olympians and spectators quickly came back to the stadium to watch the scene unfold. The stadium lights flickered back on. Akhwari entered the stadium and began to wearily pound out his final lap around the track. As he neared the finish line, the small crowd that had gathered began to roar with appreciation. They stood and cheered the lone runner all the way to the finish line. After crossing the white stripe, an exhausted Akhwari nearly collapsed. Yet in his anguish, he managed to stay on his feet and acknowledge the faithful few who had witnessed his final steps.

   After it was all over a reporter asked Akhawari why he had not retired from the race, as he had fallen so far back and had no chance of winning.

    Akhwari seemed confused by the question but finally answered.”My country did not send me 5,000 miles to Mexico City to start the race,” he said. “They sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race.”

As each of us considers the race behind and before us let us choose to persevere. As Christ and the apostle Paul demonstrated character shows not in the moments of public acceptance and idolization but in the darkness of Gethsemane and the prison cells of Rome.  As you lead and may have times of discouragement and fatigue know that you are not alone. There is a great crowd of witnesses in heaven and teammates here on earth as well.

Thank you for leading—thank you for persevering—YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!!!

Thoughts of Emi Woro

Sharing Lives---Connecting Journeys—Following Christ
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”.
2 Corinthians 9:8

The Bible is full of stories of ordinary folks……shepherds, fishermen, salesmen, tent makers, farmers, tax collectors, etc who make extraordinary contributions to the Kingdom of God. People whose stories we read about simply because they were obedient to the call of God on and in their lives. I often wonder how many more stories there should be in the Bible that were never written. People of extraordinary abilities that simply became a footnote in the history of time because when their moment….their “for such a time as this” came, they were staring out the other window or looking in the rear view mirror.
After spending the better part of three weeks with Devin and Bridget Myers in Emi Woro, Nigeria I am so impressed with their intentional pursuit and obedience to God’s call on their lives. I watched them process relationships with the people of their community, church and school like seasoned veterans not thirty day survivors. Dealing with labor, contractors, suppliers, fellow church members all in the framework of cultural differences and the politics of different tribes and villages would require someone with diplomatic seasoning beyond ordinary Americans but they do it so well and always with grace. You just have a sense that God has been preparing them their whole lives to fill this role, this day, in this place. When they encounter something unusual or beyond their ability of the moment then God fills that void with His ever present sufficiency and they demonstrate the humility to allow that to happen. One of the messages that they asked us to bring back to their family at WFMC is that they are well. Their concern, for our concern for them was touching and they wanted to make sure that we communicated to all their family and friends that they are growing and thriving.
They are an example to all of us that as believers we are all called to the “priesthood of all believers”. As Pastor Joshua alluded to Sunday we are to be FAT (faithful, available and teachable). There are no bleachers in the stadium—no spectators in the community of faith while we are here on earth. We are all called to be ministers, participants and builders on our “part of the wall”.
You as life group leaders have chosen to be participants, fellow engagers for the kingdom and I honor you for stepping up. No, we don’t all have to go to Emi Woro to be builders of the kingdom and I want to thank you for ministering right where you are. Keep loving, keep discipling and keep encouraging those God has placed in your circle and I celebrate with you the difference each of you are making in eternity.