It can be lonely at the top

I am excited for the Olympics.

Summer or winter, it doesn't matter, bring them on.

One of the things that is amazing, how close some of the races are.

A tenth of a second could be the difference between several places.

With so many races being individual, it means it's all on that one person.

One slip here or there could be the difference between gold and fifth.

This is why I feel bad for Apolo Ohno.

He is one of the people that is featured in a ton of ads right now in a tough sport to win the gold.

One slip or one fall could be the difference between fifth or gold.

Everyone would be disappointed with a fifth place finish, but it's a tough sport to win.

Either way, Ohno has to live with himself, just like we have to live with ourselves and the mistakes or failures we make.

It's all on us.

Yet win or lose, success or failure, it's always good to have someone there with you.

I have won some in sports, I have also lost a lot.

In between the high school sports of swimming and cross country, I think I had a combined team record of 10-68.

We lost a lot.

I remember the losing, but I remember more the fun we had.

It was never boring.

I remember, acting like a fool and joking around with Lansing Catholic in warm-ups to a race.

Joel Parks cracked me up and the entire Lansing Catholic team wasn't happy with us.

It just so happened that before the race started, we were lined up next to them.

This was funny.

They started to talk about how they were going to crush us, we laughed and said we know.

They asked what times we ran.

We weren't even close to them.

They laughed at this and the fact there was no way we would beat them.

It was still fun.

Or there was the intimidation factor we had with people like Dhin.

He would run up to other teams and just freak them out.

Or Jon beating up a tree after a bad race.

People thought we were crazy.

It was some of the most fun I have ever had losing.

Do you have any memories like this?

In swimming, I remember being more excited for the after meet then the meet.

Driving to Jackson and always did the Country Parlor after the meet.

Seeing people like Max Spekin, BJ and other tackle the Dare to be great (21 scoops of ice cream) while people like Lisa, Scott and myself just watched.

They were great times.

Even when losing, it can be fun when you are around other people.

Sometimes it can be lonely when burn bridges to get to the top.

I loved my high school teams, and I wouldn't give up that experience to be a winner and be alone at the top.

It's fun sharing memories with people.

Mark 8 talks about Jesus predicting his death and he says some deep reflective thought in this, one of which was verse 36…

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"

Jesus had some deep meaning to this text.

You can have everything and nothing at the same time.

You can be at the top of a company but burn every bridge to get to that top.

People might look up to you but not have any respect for you.

It can be lonely without anyone to share victories or loses with.

When we forfeit what's important to us to gain something, we often lose what we gain.

It took me till I was 18 to make a decision to follow Christ.

Part of what I had to give up was…me.

There was a lot I was trying to do on my own and failing at.

I had a lot of issues I was trying to deal with on my own.

I was trying my best at trying to become better on my own.

I could handle the issues I struggled with on my own.

It wasn't until I gave my life to Christ that I realized I was trying to do things I was incapable of.

One of which was forgiveness.

I wouldn't be the person I am today without the forgiveness Christ gave me and that I can give other people.

I am not alone any more.

We all face different things in life, different ups and different downs, but no matter what, Christ is there for us.

We never have to be lonely again or face things on our own.

What have you been facing that you have tried to handle on your own?

Sometimes it's good to have someone there with you.

All you have to do is ask and Christ is there for you.

I spent some very lonely nights before I realized this.

How about you?

Have a great day.