All this work, for nothing

The Olympics are filled great success stories of athletes who gave their whole efforts to represent a nation in athletic pursuit. The winners are wrapped in flags and doused with hugs and kisses, tears and smiles. Most were humbly gratified, amazed at the moment.

But no one lavishes the loser, the one disqualified from the race.

This year’s Olympians saw athletes disqualified over throwing matches, played poorly on purpose to secure a more favorable position. There was a judo player who tested positive for marijuana, blaming it on a bad brownie. A shot putter was stripped of her gold medal after testing positive for drugs.

And then there were those who had mental lapses. I think of the sprinters, who came off the block a millisecond too late. I think of the divers who didn’t twist at just the right second because of the roar of the crowd. I think of the toe that caught a hurdle, or the slip of a shoe that caused a tumble, or a missed target because of an errant breath.

Years of training – gone. Dreams of medals,dashed and forgotten. 

Is the prize the most important thing? Once the victory is gone, is the pursuit even worth it?

Paul, writing of the Olympians in his day, said this. 

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? <sup value='(AM)’>Run <sup value='(AN)’>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 <sup value='(AO)’>that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; <sup value='(AQ)’>I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body <sup value='(AS)’>and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

So I ask myself, How can I avoid disqualification?