It was the news that transformed the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics, from a jubilant celebration to a tempered remembrance of a fallen friend.In a training run of the luge the day before the Olympics were to begin, a Georgian athlete lost his life in a tragic accident.In the days since, there has been a lot of discussion as to the how and the why of the young competitor’s death, but none of that seems much satisfying.In an interview, the young man’s father, himself an Olympic competitor in the sport of luge, recalled how he had counseled his son to go slow, and be safe on what was to be a difficult and challenging track.His son replied to his father, “How can you, a professional athlete, tell me to go slow in the Olympics?”For the young man, there was a purpose for being in Vancouver and that was to compete to the best of his ability.The purpose was to go fast and win.I find myself saddened by what happened, but I also find myself inspired by the young man’s commitment and devotion to his sport.It seems to be the case with him- if it was worth doing, it was worth doing right.
In a way, as we enter the season of Lent, we find ourselves orienting towards one who held that same kind of commitment and devotion, but this time it is not sport, but our lives that are the object of the devotion.It is the center of our faith that God’s commitment and devotion for us was so great, and so perfect, that he was willing to bare the pain and humiliation of the cross so that with him we might cross the finish line and win the prize.As the hymn goes, "what wondrous love is this?".In this season, we lift up this love, and find in it a renewed call to love, the Lord our God who was willing to die for us and our neighbor, because he has asked us to.
I encourage you in this season to walk through Lent renewed in your own commitment to daily seek the companionship of God.Allow him to love you and discover that in such love there is so much love to give.Try reading a gospel through from start to finish.Try to find time to pray when you rise, starting your day in devotion, and to pray before you sleep, ending you day in commitment.Ask God to love you and make you whole.Because what you will find is that he is ready to give himself fully to you, because he has already given all of himself for you.In all of this may you, and all of us together, find the life that we will lift up and celebrate on Easter Sunday when we proclaim that yes, God died for us, but he also lives for us, and through his love, lives in us.
Thanks be to God for his love.Amen.
Blessings, Jonathan
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