It hasn't been difficult to discern that the Winter Olympics have been sharing time with the Season of Lent. Of course the Olympics have generated lots of debate about the sport results, the television coverage, and the way the city of Vancouver and community of Whistler have hosted and responded to this international spectacle.
With host broadcasting responsibilities having moved from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to CTV and its sibling networks, my favourite network, CBC, the public network, has primarily been doing games coverage on the Radio One network.
As I drove to visit St. Paul Presbytery I heard a wonderful discussion about the value of play in our lives. It focused on 'play' as experienced by children and the right to play that is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Right to Play is an organization heavily supported by Olympic athletes that provides opportunities for developing world children and adults to participate in organized sport.
All of that discussion was inspiring and interesting, but the part that was particularly hard for me to hear was the reminder to high caliber athletes to remember the fun they first had when they were first attracted to their particular sport. The coach or sports psychologist used 'Remember the Joy' as the key phrase to help the athlete relive the fun and joy of their sport and release some of the pressure that can hamper a performance.
I love that phrase 'Remember the Joy' and the sentiment behind it. What if we did the same in our community of faith? What would it do for our worship and mission if we 'Remembered the Joy' and celebrated joyfully who and what we are?
It's not just about fun, although fun is important - it's about remembering the joy that comes with fulfilling our mission as God's people.
Tuesday, February 23
Vermilion
No comments:
Post a Comment