Sometimes one line from a movie sticks in our minds forever:
May the force be with you (Star Wars); I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse ( The Godfather); or Life Is like a box of chocolates (F.orrest Gump).
I found another one to add to the collection from “Cool Runnings,” a movie I watched on a plane recently about the Calgary Jamaican Olympic bobsled team of 1988: If you aren’t happy with yourself without a gold medal, you won’t be happy with yourself with one.
The four young men from Jamaica got the idea to compete in the 1988 Calgary winter Olympics because a former gold medal bobsledder lived in Jamaica. If they could convince him to be their coach, they figured they’d have a chance at a medal.
The team practiced on dirt hills in tropical Jamaica. Being outstanding athletes who were focused, determined and disciplined, they got the hang of bobsledding (or at least bobsledding on dirt). The coach drilled them hard and they were all in.
When they arrived in Calgary, the first step was to qualify by making the run in less than 60 seconds. Although they came in at under 60 seconds, they were told they could not complete. The judges ruled them out because their coach had cheated at a prior Olympic Games. Upon hearing this, the coach stormed into the judges’ meeting and confessed his former sins, begging they not be held against the young men who had worked so hard to be there. His confession and plea paid off and the team was back in.
On the first of four runs the team did pretty well. They nailed the second run, putting them in medal contention territory, increasing their excitement and nervousness. On the night before the third run, the team leader asked the coach, “Coach, why did you cheat to win a gold medal? You already had one. Why?”
The coach responded, “I made a terrible mistake. I regret it to this day. Maybe I thought I’d be happy with my self if I won another gold medal. I learned. If you’re not happy with yourself without a gold medal you won’t be happy with yourself with one.”
Gold medals, straight As, national championships, kids or grandkids doing incredible things don’t define us. We are who we are in Christ Jesus. “In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) Whether or not we are on the front or cover of any magazine, newspaper, or prime time news show doesn’t change that. We are His and He is enough. If we receive recognition for our talents, gifts, or abilities, great. We can enjoy it, giving credit to the One who made it possible. If we don’t, no problem. He is our sufficiency and we are happy with Him alone.
On the third run the team’s sled collapsed, turning over mid run. Emergency response personnel ran up to them, but they were not hurt physically. The young men got out of the sled, put it on their shoulders, and finished the race on foot. As they crossed the finish line the crowd cheered wildly for this tropical team with the big hearts – beloved underdogs. Each member of the team overcame disappointment, ridicule, and failure to be there and finish their race. Although they had no medal, what they had was better – being happy with who they were, knowing they had given it their all.
