Find Your Greatness: In Our Great God

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted over all.

1 Chronicles 29:11

 

When Olympic time rolls around ladies, I confess to being a true wannabe: I truly wannabe an athlete; I truly wanna compete; and, I wanna win. My television was on for two solid weeks. Not that my eyes were glued, but my ears were attuned. As someone said, the aquarium effect kicks in—you walk past, stop and look for a moment, and walk on.

This summer the fun began with the opening ceremony. You surely have to admire the finesse of the Brits. Who knew what was coming when 007 (Daniel Craig) escorted the Queen from Buckingham Palace into a waiting helicopter? Which one of you expected to see her pastel pink frock and feathered hat parachuting over the stadium, to coincide with her perfectly timed seating in the royal box? The ultimate British spoof had just taken place.    

Not that the Olympics has anything to do with the Queen per se; although she has had a rather glorious year, considering it is her diamond jubilee. In the main, Elizabeth II has exemplified the regal nature of royalty. Meanwhile the prominent presence of William and Kate and Harry at the events has kept our eyes on its pizzaz.

But again, this is not about the royals. By the time the Olympic torch had raised its petals, the athletes had taken center stage. The theme of these games: Find Your Greatness; the understated focus of each participant: sacrifice of self to achieve glory.

So, let the games begin; it is good to admire the greatness of personal glory for two weeks every couple of years. Yet in the big picture of life we must take care not to skew our priorities. We too are in training, yes; and yes, self-sacrifice is central to our regime. But greatness is not found in self nor in royalty nor in athletics, but in our great God.  

Nancy P