Jenny’s letter 28th July

Dear Friends,

Are you a fan of the Olympic games? I suspect that, like me, you enjoy some of the sports more than others. Which ones are your favourites? I enjoy watching track events, especially short distance races, and the pole vault. I also like watching swimming, diving and gymnastics, too. When I was at school my best sports were tennis and badminton as well as Shot Put. I was also very flexible so until my teenage years I enjoyed gymnastics. Then I realised there were lots of people better than me. That’s not really a reason to stop doing something but the opportunities dried up and my interest disappeared – except of course when I am watching someone else do it! 

Did you know that St Paul was alive when the earliest Olympics were held? He references the idea of running a race at several points in his letters. He knew that competitors would spend up to 10 months training. The people of Corinth were very familiar with these events and, because of that, Paul uses the games as an analogy for a believer’s life of faithfulness. He wrote to the church in Corinth saying, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). 

Paul’s exhortation is that believers should be as focused and dedicated as those ancient runners in the games. In serving Christ we “run”, not for a temporary crown, but for an eternal one. In his letter to Timothy Paul writes about what the grace of God had enabled him to do. He says “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24). By declaring “I have finished the race,” Paul is telling Timothy that he had put every effort into the work of proclaiming to all the gospel of salvation. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2.Timothy 4.7). He is not boasting but simply recalling that he has lived out the call on his life that God has given to him. 

In the Christian “race” everyone who pays the price of focused training for the cause of Christ can win. We are not competing against one another, as in athletic games, but against the struggles – physical and spiritual – that stand in the way of our reaching the prize (Philippians 3:14). Paul encourages the people of Corinth to “run in such a way as to get the prize,” The writer of Hebrews takes up the words of Paul: “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). As Christians, I imagine our race is more akin to a long-distance event. It is tough and takes a great deal out of us over time. They continue the run because they want to win. The prize is worth more than the pain. That is true for us too. 

In Paris 2024, the Swimmer Adam Peaty will attempt to win Gold in the 100m breaststroke for the third time. In the past two years he has turned to drink and drugs because swimming and winning was no longer enough. He credits his newfound Christian faith as the thing that brought him back from a very dark and difficult time. It has given him purpose and the sure and certain hope that needed to go on competing and to live life outside of the pool. 

Christianity offers each of us the opportunity to come first. Some may overcome bigger hurdles than others, some may get there quickly and, for others, it will take much more time. But, when we run the unique race that is set for us and keep our ‘eyes on the prize’ we are all able to come first. God does not run out of space, or love, or compassion, or strength, or care and, individually, we are all able to live better now with faith and eventually to be at one with him for ever. 

Keeping running my friends but settle from time-to-time to enjoy watching at least some of the Olympics. 

God Bless you