The XXIX (29th) Olympiad began yesterday at precisely 8 seconds past 8 minutes after 8 o’clock on the 8th day of the 8th month of the 8th year of the 
millennium. Hmm... Talk about being behind the 8-ball! (In case you’re wondering, 8 is the number of prosperity and good fortune in Chinese culture. By the way, it’s also been reported that young couples were bombarding the marriage license offices and expectant mothers were lining up for C-sections on Friday—everyone wanting their big event to happen on 8/8/08 for good luck.)
The 2008 Olympic Games are some of the most anticipated in years, primarily because of their host country—the
People’s Republic of China. Yes, this by far is China’s biggest step onto the world stage. For years, China was a largely reclusive, even mysterious land, intentionally isolated from much of the rest of the world in spite of being the planet’s most populous nation. Now, China will be under the full glare of the world’s spotlight for the next two weeks, a position they’ve never found themselves in before. It will be interesting to see 
how that all pans out. (As I write these words, the magnificent opening ceremonies held in Beijing’s new national stadium—“the bird’s nest”—were receiving global accolades. But that great achievement was tragically dampened just a few hours later with an unprovoked fatal knife attack on the relative of a US volleyball coach. Let’s hope the rest of the Olympics go without incident.)
The Far East’s sleeping giant has come a long way. Although China fell to the Communists in 1949, it was not until 1971 that the nation was finally granted membership in the United Nations. The United States also formally recognized the revolutionary government at that time, with President Nixon making an historic trip to China in 1972. In the decades since, China has been a growing economic power in the world’s increasingly globalized economy. (I wonder why Communists aren’t willing to admit the obvious: That without capitalism they simply couldn’t survive!)
Of course, as one would expect of a Communist country, China is still light years behind in regard to human rights, political freedom, and religious liberty. There has been hope of progress in these areas in recent years, but
every seeming step forward always appears to be followed by two more steps backward. In fact, leading up to the Games, there has been renewed debate as to whether the Olympics should even be held in China at all. This past week, President Bush strongly condemned China’s human rights record, even as he was en route to Beijing for the Games’ opening ceremonies. Pretty courageous, I thought. But some thought he shouldn’t even be there. I suppose no one really wanted a repeat of 1980 and 1984, when the USA boycotted the Games in Moscow and the Soviets retaliated by boycotting the Olympics in Los Angeles, thus diminishing those contests considerably and harming the athletes more than anyone else.
Sandy and I will miss getting to watch this year’s Summer Olympics. We’ll
be in Cuba—another Communist country—during virtually all of the Games. Although I’m certain we’ll hear nothing about Team USA’s achievements, we may hear reports regarding Cuba’s Olympic successes while we’re on the island. The Caribbean country is a powerhouse when it comes to two sports—baseball and boxing. So watch and see how the Cuban teams perform in those arenas.
When I think about the Olympic Summer Games, I think about heroic stories like that of Jesse Owens at the 1936 Games in Germany. The gifted African-American sprinter embarrassed Hitler and his claim of Aryan supremacy by winning 3 gold medals against the Furher’s stable of blond-haired, blue-eyed German athletes. Jesse Owens was truly a class act and a great American hero. I also am inspired by the story of Wilma Rudolph, a poor girl from 
Tennessee that won 3 gold medals as a runner at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Rudolph, the 20th of 22 children, suffered from polio as a child and wasn’t able to walk without assistance until she was 12. But then she blossomed…and then some! By the age of 20, at the 1960 Games, the gazelle-like Rudolph was dubbed the fastest woman in the world! Then, in 
recent years, there was Kerri Strug, a petite 18-year-old American gymnast who during the 1996 Games in Atlanta became a national hero overnight. In pain from having injured her leg in an earlier jump, Strug refused to shrink back from the challenge before her. With everything riding on her, she clinched the gold medal for her team by making a courageous final vault in the floor exercises competition. Following a near perfect landing, she was in such agony that she couldn't even walk and was carried from floor in tears. But her bravery inspired a nation.
millennium. Hmm... Talk about being behind the 8-ball! (In case you’re wondering, 8 is the number of prosperity and good fortune in Chinese culture. By the way, it’s also been reported that young couples were bombarding the marriage license offices and expectant mothers were lining up for C-sections on Friday—everyone wanting their big event to happen on 8/8/08 for good luck.)The 2008 Olympic Games are some of the most anticipated in years, primarily because of their host country—the
People’s Republic of China. Yes, this by far is China’s biggest step onto the world stage. For years, China was a largely reclusive, even mysterious land, intentionally isolated from much of the rest of the world in spite of being the planet’s most populous nation. Now, China will be under the full glare of the world’s spotlight for the next two weeks, a position they’ve never found themselves in before. It will be interesting to see 
how that all pans out. (As I write these words, the magnificent opening ceremonies held in Beijing’s new national stadium—“the bird’s nest”—were receiving global accolades. But that great achievement was tragically dampened just a few hours later with an unprovoked fatal knife attack on the relative of a US volleyball coach. Let’s hope the rest of the Olympics go without incident.)
The Far East’s sleeping giant has come a long way. Although China fell to the Communists in 1949, it was not until 1971 that the nation was finally granted membership in the United Nations. The United States also formally recognized the revolutionary government at that time, with President Nixon making an historic trip to China in 1972. In the decades since, China has been a growing economic power in the world’s increasingly globalized economy. (I wonder why Communists aren’t willing to admit the obvious: That without capitalism they simply couldn’t survive!)Of course, as one would expect of a Communist country, China is still light years behind in regard to human rights, political freedom, and religious liberty. There has been hope of progress in these areas in recent years, but
every seeming step forward always appears to be followed by two more steps backward. In fact, leading up to the Games, there has been renewed debate as to whether the Olympics should even be held in China at all. This past week, President Bush strongly condemned China’s human rights record, even as he was en route to Beijing for the Games’ opening ceremonies. Pretty courageous, I thought. But some thought he shouldn’t even be there. I suppose no one really wanted a repeat of 1980 and 1984, when the USA boycotted the Games in Moscow and the Soviets retaliated by boycotting the Olympics in Los Angeles, thus diminishing those contests considerably and harming the athletes more than anyone else.Sandy and I will miss getting to watch this year’s Summer Olympics. We’ll
be in Cuba—another Communist country—during virtually all of the Games. Although I’m certain we’ll hear nothing about Team USA’s achievements, we may hear reports regarding Cuba’s Olympic successes while we’re on the island. The Caribbean country is a powerhouse when it comes to two sports—baseball and boxing. So watch and see how the Cuban teams perform in those arenas.
When I think about the Olympic Summer Games, I think about heroic stories like that of Jesse Owens at the 1936 Games in Germany. The gifted African-American sprinter embarrassed Hitler and his claim of Aryan supremacy by winning 3 gold medals against the Furher’s stable of blond-haired, blue-eyed German athletes. Jesse Owens was truly a class act and a great American hero. I also am inspired by the story of Wilma Rudolph, a poor girl from 
Tennessee that won 3 gold medals as a runner at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Rudolph, the 20th of 22 children, suffered from polio as a child and wasn’t able to walk without assistance until she was 12. But then she blossomed…and then some! By the age of 20, at the 1960 Games, the gazelle-like Rudolph was dubbed the fastest woman in the world! Then, in 
recent years, there was Kerri Strug, a petite 18-year-old American gymnast who during the 1996 Games in Atlanta became a national hero overnight. In pain from having injured her leg in an earlier jump, Strug refused to shrink back from the challenge before her. With everything riding on her, she clinched the gold medal for her team by making a courageous final vault in the floor exercises competition. Following a near perfect landing, she was in such agony that she couldn't even walk and was carried from floor in tears. But her bravery inspired a nation. 
But when I think about Olympic heroes, I also marvel at a man like Eric Liddell, whose true life story was immortalized in the 1982 motion picture Chariots of Fire. If for some reason you’ve never seen that Academy Award winning film, you absolutely must see it. Liddell, known as “The Flying Scotsman” was a man who stood by his Christian convictions and, in the end, the Lord honored His faithfulness. He became a gold medalist at the 1924 Games in Paris. Later, Liddell became a missionary to China and ultimately a Christian martyr, dying as a Japanese prisoner of war during World War II.But when I think about Olympic glory, my favorite remembrance is not of a gold medalist, but of an athlete that finished dead last in his competition:
Derek Redmond of Great Britain, who tore a hamstring during the 400 meters at the Barcelona Games in 1992. In terrible pain, he got up and tried to continue, but he couldn’t. His father couldn’t bear to see his son suffering and struggling alone. So he raced from the sidelines, ran to his son’s side, put his arms around him and helped him to the finish line, to a standing ovation from the amazed crowd. Officially, that action disqualified Redmond. But it really didn’t matter. He was going to finish last anyway. The truth is both he and his father were winners that day. Indeed, we all were. For no one that witnessed that event has ever forgotten the blessing of that visual image of a loving father coming alongside his hurting son and helping him finish.Without me even saying it, I trust you see the spiritual parallel in that. More than once in the Bible the Christian life is compared to a race. And if indeed it is a race, then we must remember that it’s not a sprint, but a marathon. And there are lots of ups and downs in the course of a marathon. There are times when we all make missteps and stumble. Sometimes we fall. Sometimes we falter. Sometimes we feel we can’t get back up again. Sometimes we feel we can’t go on. Sometimes we experience deep hurt and pain. But there is always One who comes alongside us…to comfort us, to love on us, to give us His strength, and to encourage us to remain faithful and finish the course that’s been charted out for us.
The loving action of Derek Redmond’s father reminds us that we
too have a Father in Heaven. On occasions He may seem far removed from us during the race of life, but in all actuality, He is quite near. If today, you are experiencing stress, fatigue, weariness or pain in your journey, I pray that you will sense the Father’s touch in fresh new way. Remember, He will never leave you nor forsake you. And having Him in your life is far greater than any Olympic glory. And it's worth all the tea in China as well.Pastor Danny
