LIFT AS YOU CLIMB

 

August 6, 2024

 

Eternal father of my soul, let my first thought today be of you, let my first impulse be to worship you, let my first speech be your name, at my first action be to kneel in prayer. Amen.

John Baillie in A Diary of Private Prayer

 

 Philippians 2:3-4

… in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Hebrews 13:16

do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

 

I am inspired by Olympic stories and testimonies. I especially, take a level of inspiration from the backstory of athletes, the things that led to an Olympic appearance and Medal. One thing that becomes abundantly clear, not one athlete makes it to the podium by themselves. There is a community that has been instrumental in getting them that far in their sport.

Olympian Jordan Chiles’ journey is truly inspiring. Despite facing significant challenges and being overlooked for major assignments due to inconsistency, she persevered and transformed her career. The environment she was in was indeed toxic, and many had written her off.

However, her story took a remarkable turn when in 2019, the decorated gymnast Simone Biles invited Jordan to relocate from Washington to Texas to join the gym that she owns - a safe space with a positive environment. When Jordan arrived, the first thing they worked on was not building her skills but instead building her confidence.

This move proved to be pivotal. Training under coaches Laurent and Cecile Landi, and with the support of Biles, Chiles found a renewed sense of purpose and consistency. Her hard work paid off as she became a key member of the U.S. gymnastics team, winning a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and just a few days ago, a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in team competition and a bronze medal in floor gymnastics.

Our Bible verses today point to the calling, to do good and to value others above ourselves, and when we do, our verses tell us that it is pleasing to God. I was thinking how this Olympic story is repeated over and over in the Community of Jesus where a community member is wounded, grieving and broken, ready to give up, and they find through Jesus love, a people around them, a church, that is a safe place with a positive environment where healing can come.

Jordan Chiles’ story is a perfect example of “lifting as you climb.” Her journey shows that true success isn’t just about personal achievements but also about creating a supportive environment where others can thrive. By moving to train with Simone Biles and finding a positive, encouraging atmosphere, Chiles not only improved her own performance but also contributed to the success of her teammates.

Fostering a culture of mutual support and encouragement can lead to greater community success and fulfillment. It’s about celebrating each other’s victories and helping one another overcome challenges. Trophies and medals are nice but the greatest award, is winning together and creating an environment where others thrive too!

I pray that we are that Church, and that we will continue to be that kind of witness to the world, that demonstrates what can happen when “… in humility (we) value others above yourselves.