If I had to choose between my wife and my putter... well, I’d miss her.
The goal and the glory
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compiled by Josh Davis, Regal 2008. ISBN 978-0-8307-4600-2. 240 pages
The book consists of 63 devotions by Olympians, under three headings Goals, Guts and Glory. There are also two essays by Ashley Null “Insights into the heart of a champion”
Inevitably the quality of the devotions (admittedly a subjective perspective) are better than others. Among the ones which spoke to me were:
Overcoming Fear by Laura Wilkinson (Page 58-59) which includes “Everyonne has fears. Sometimes fear can start from a thought or a challenge that really doesn’t seem too bad at first. But if you don’t overcome fear, it starts to grow. You can push fear away from your mind and try to forget it, but you always know it is there, lurking in the back of your mind”.
Training worship by Penny Heyns (Page 70-72). “I sensed God was saying to me, ‘As you swim up and down this black line, this is your opportunity to worship me. Every single breaststroke kick and pull that you do is the same as raising your hands in church and praising me. I’ll teach you to worship me through your talent.’”
“As I look back on my swimming career, it is not the world records that thrill me most. My greatest joy is knowing that God used my love of swimming to draw me closer to him”.
Lost and found promises By Madeline Mimms (Page 98) an honest account of dealing with problems
Fleeting highs and lasting joys by Josh Davis (Page 148-51) on the joy yet fleeting nature of winning
I loved the quote “God marks across some of our days ‘Will explain later’ Vance Havner (Page 77)
Ashley Nunn wonderfully describes the the experience of being an Olympic chaplain as a Dickensian paradox where “You have the unique opportunity to share the indescribable joy of an athlete who has just fulfilled a lifelong quest to attain the ultimate sporting achievement. You also have the even greater privilege to stand by and support athletes who have just seem their life’s dream shattered before their eyes” Page 133