Olympics

Did you see the quadruple axel? Ilia Malinin is the first and only skater to successfully land a fully rotated quadruple axel. The 21-year-old American delivered a clutch gold medal performance in the men’s free skate. Japan was tight on our heels. If you haven’t seen Malinin’s jump yet, check it out!

The storytelling aspect of the Olympics is my favorite part. I’m a junkie for the hype videos! Truth be told, I’ll likely find me snoozing during the actual competition. Ilia Malinin’s story is fascinating. He was born in Fairfax, Virginia in 2004. Both his parents were born in the former Soviet Union and were also Olympic figure skaters. Even -his grandfather was an Olympic skater and coach. It makes me wonder if skill is nature or nurture; probably a mixture of both.

Do you have a family activity or hobby that has been passed down for generations? I would love to hear that story. As a Christian family, the story we pass down throughout the generations is the Gospel… the story of Jesus. This is a story of redemption, filled with drama and surprise. Jesus is up against the Roman occupation, the Pharisees out to trap him, and the constant threat of death. Jesus was not only constantly on the move to spread the Gospel, but also to literally stay alive. This story has all the makings of an exhilarating drama!

As Christians, we are not only defeating death through the Resurrection, but we are defeating the forces that tempt us to sin and keep us divided. We are defeating our fears. We are battling against our worst impulses. The challenge before us as Christians, our quadruple axel, is love for one another… genuine love. Much like skating, it takes years of practice to master. Believe me, if love was a sport, even I’m no Olympian.

Victory truly comes once we understand that we are only in competition with ourselves. Our ongoing challenge is to live more fully and more lovingly every day. The gold medal that many people never get is becoming the person that God has created us to be, truly loved, abundantly forgiven, and filled with joy. Through Christ, we are made victorious. Christ ensures that will all be brought into harmonious completion. With God, we are all winners. The Gospel story is victory for all!

Join me on the podium,

Pastor Lucas   

Photo by Todd Trapani