With the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics, our television screens are filled with images of athletic prowess, the evidence of years of hard work and sacrifice, and heated competition. After all, it is the Olympics, right? The most prestigious athletic event in the world. Many young people around the world dream of one day competing here and winning a gold medal.
On Saturday, Robert and I watched a bit of the Men’s Road Race Road Cycling event. It was obvious that the cyclists were giving everything they had physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I don’t really know much about cycling, but I was certainly enjoying the scene of these riders against the lush backdrop of the English countryside.
At the head of the pack were two British cyclists, striving to stay in the lead.
I was so impressed as I watched the scene unfold and listened to the announcer describe what was happening. Bradley Wiggins, another member of Great Britain’s team, was riding beside the car that had water bottles for the riders. He took two water bottles and tucked them into the back of his racing jersey. You see, getting water is a necessary part of the race, but it is time consuming and can cost riders their position, which they then have to strive to recover.
Then the commentator explained what he was doing. Bradley Wiggins had decided to take those water bottles and deliver them to his teammates at the head of the pack. The announcer then went on to say that he had never seen anyone do that before.
Then, Bradley Wiggins fought his way past many other cyclists to reach his friends at the front. While maintaining his speed, Wiggins partially unzipped his jersey and removed one bottle at a time, handing them to his teammates. Through this whole maneuver, the three of them rode side-by-side, maintaining their lead.
It caught my attention and really made me think.
Here are a few reasons why this is so incredible:
- Wiggins is a strong enough rider to be able to pass many in the race to get to the front of the pack to deliver the bottles…that speaks to his strength, speed, endurance, and skill.
- Bradley Wiggins knew that this type of race wasn’t his strength and that he didn’t have a fantastic chance of winning, so instead, he decided to help his teammates improve their chances.
- Wiggins put aside his own ego and thought about his friends/teammates
- Bradley Wiggins just won the 2012 Tour de France this month!
As I sat there, I realized that what we had just witnessed was a big part of what makes Bradley Wiggins {or any of us, for that matter} a winner.
Bradley Wiggins wasn’t simply thinking about himself and the glory that could be his. He was thinking about others…and how he could serve them and help them to reach their goals.
That is exactly what we’re called to do…as wives, friends, and disciples of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 and 24b-26 says it like this:
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
I asked myself and God if I’m really doing this. Am I making sure that I am doing what I can to make my teammate (husband) as successful as possible? Am I equally concerned for others or am I creating division with my attitude? Do I rejoice when others are honored? {Adjustments required!}
Will you join me in asking those questions of yourself and the Lord today and make the necessary adjustments?
So grateful to be part of this team,
Rebecca
image via pinterest
