Some of us do not have time to watch the Olympics. That being the case, here are some thoughts.

We may not always be a winner because that is a human determination, but we are never a loser because that is a divine promise.

We are winners!! Just getting out the door is a bronze. Getting home is a silver. Having done our best is a gold. Every single day. Every single day. Every day. Every day.

I am watching sprinters backing off their run near the finish line. When there is only 20 meters left to go on a hundred meter dash they stop trying, and they have a near full tank of energy. One sprinter may have given up an outstanding world record. I have seen both men and women athletes not giving it their all. The attitude is: "I can beat you without even trying." Today a major league baseball player thought he had hit a home run so he lazed around the bases. He was tagged out at second leaving a scoring run on third. He has been reprimanded three times for lack of effort. Who needs that?

The world is the world and there are some things that are likely not to change, so learn to live with it, and find your own joy.

I am as skilled as another. My form, my strength, my voice, my quickness, my determination, my respect for others, but ......... I am not as cute, not as tall, with a less infectious smile so I lose by a fraction. I am not in the light as she. But you know, I know who I am, and who I am will serve me all my life. I have not had the accolades of the more beautiful, then again, I have more to give than just this sport. When the Olympics are over, I would like to have a gold to show everyone. I would like to have a gold to show my children, to show them what tenacity and devotion can do, because I did that. But you know, my children may not be the cutest in the world. If they are, they will have that advantage, but if they are not, I can show them how to be just as strong a contributor not being cute. I love the Olympics. It teaches me how to deal with the world and myself. When I think about the Olympics and all the countries involved, I hope that those countries that are not the "cutest", those with less than abundant natural resources, can learn the same lessons I have learned. We are all good. We all have something to contribute. We all go for the gold even if there is a bias that covers us all. So, we need to learn to live with the bias, and in the process, contribute as much as those that have it all. We are the remnant and we count. (Jer 23:3)

An air rifle competitor was in the zone. He was relaxed and so on target that he thought, I have the gold. At that very moment he left the zone and finished fourth. He knew what he did. He thought of the glory and not the target. Afterward, he felt ashamed for lack of mental discipline. When the bronze medalist was disqualified for drug use, the competitor’s fourth place went to bronze. The price he paid was not to stand on the podium as gold or even bronze, but then again he metaled later. He learned his lesson. Want to be the best? Stay on target. Let the results come as they may.

Here are some comments on attitude.

Share your water bottle when running the marathon.

In beach volley ball, get out of the sand NOW, and hit the next shot. Your original shot was good, but it is the next one that counts. Oh, by the way, hit the ball inside the lines.

When competing in trampoline, there is a deduction for bouncing out side the lines on the trampoline rebound bed. Stay inside the lines.

When doing floor gymnastics, stepping outside the lines is a deduction. You can have a very a high value routine, execute the skills very well, but if you step outside the lines, you can lose.

Don’t step! You can have a near perfect routine and lose the gold if you take a step on your dismount landing. Don’t bounce and don’t step.

When you finish, finish! Don’t partially finish. That is not a finish; it is an "I tried." Stick it.

Stay on the balance beam unless you wish to dismount.

Hold on to the high bar unless you wish to let go.

Hold on to the rings.

When you vault. Don’t step. Hear me? Don’t step on your landing.

Oh, yes. Do not vault until you are permitted to vault, or run, or whatever. Play fair.

Run through the tape.

Swim into the wall.

Row every stroke.

Solitary dedication for four or more years, lonely, When with team mates, you are only sure of you. Yes, you represent yourself. You also represent your team. But more than all else, you represent your country.

Now, fellow athletes, please respect your country. By that I mean, when you win and the National Anthem is played, please put you hand over your heart. The Olympics is about good sportsmanship and honor among athletes. Honor your country. Those in the USA are watching. Show them that they are a part of your success, because believe me, they are.

You know, while it may not be 100% true, it is probably more true than not. Every athlete has a story. A heart wrenching story. A story that, if we knew, might break our heart, but for sure, it did not break their heart. Why are there so many heart wrenching stories? Because the level of sacrifice is monumental. Sacrifices concern political, medical, social, family, financial matters, and every other possible consideration. And .....

And the rewards are so small outside of the fact that one can say "For the moment, I am the best." Then again, being able to say that even for four minutes, much less four years, is something no one else on the face of the earth can say. Good for them. Good for every one of them. "The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible." (Mary Baker Eddy). If nothing else, and there is much more, the Olympic athletes are to be honored every time we can do so.

Let us not deceive ourselves. Every single day is a fight. If it is not, then we are not putting enough on the line. Some pray for days of ease, smooth, unruffled, uncontended, unfettered, laid back. Think about it. Did Jesus ever have one of those days? Not in his life. Not in ours if we are giving as much as did he.

How good do we want to be?

It is always easy to give up. In one week, there are several justifiable reasons to feel sorry for ourselves, to run to our cave, to feel we are less than what the world needs, but we do not give up. We never give up.

We may not always be a winner, but we are never a looser. Never!

When boot Owens wanted to wash out of the Marine boot camp because it was too rigorous for him, he asked his lieutenant, "Whose country is this?" meaning that if he did not want to be in the Corp then he should be permitted to leave and not being allowed to do so was unpatriotic. When his discharge papers finally came through, as he being mentally unfit, his lieutenant answered him. Owens, you asked whose country is this. Well the answer is "It is your country, Owens. That is whose country it is." He did not wash out. He became the best.

We may not always be a winner because that is a human determination, but we are never a loser, because that is a divine promise.

Jaded patriotism is not accepted. Put your hand on your heart when the national anthem is played!

Bottom line. Just do it.