Olympian!

Who can watch the Olympic Games (winter or summer) without marveling at the focus, determination, and demonstrated performance of these dedicated athletes?  

The same, of course, could be said of great musicians or explorers or scholars or reformers.  But could not—using my criteria—honor also be made of great mothers or the ‘Mother Teresa’s,’ or of the stoic sufferers of this world—those who are out of the spotlight or even of the notice of any other human being but who are enduring the vicissitudes with the fortitude of an Olympian? And how about the brave ones—the firefighters, police, and military defenders?  Yes, they too. 

My point is that we who have not paid the price of self-sacrifice, of time—in fact often endless hours of deprivation—of humiliation, bodily pain, surrender of comfort, and the agony of what has been called ‘defeat’ have not experienced one of the truly important dimensions of life.  With all the glory of the Games that the world sees every four years, there is also the endless hours of ‘blood, sweat, and tears’ that every serious competitor knows.  I think that those who never get off the couch and onto the floor of the arena truly do not know what has gone into the ‘good fight.’

But there are some who know.  There is a fellowship of those who have paid the price.

And so I commend those who have practiced, and practiced, and practiced and who then submit themselves to the scrutiny of those less practiced for their evaluation. 

Whether the performer or parent, paramedic or patient ‘wins,’ ‘places,’ or just finishes—but has given all to try to finish and make a good showing—I  commend them and place them on my pedestal of approbation. 

They are the Olympians in deed!