The Special in Olympics

Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

A few years ago, the Special Olympics were held in Seattle, and a beautiful thing happened. Nine contestants, all with physical or mental disabilities, stood at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. As the gun sounded, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. But as they ran, one boy slipped and fell. He tumbled over a couple of times and began to cry. The other eight runners heard the boy crying. They all stopped, turned around, and went back, every one of them. One girl with Down’s syndrome bent down and kissed him on top of his head, and said, “This will make it all better.” The other runners helped the fallen boy up, and all nine of them linked arms and walked together, side by side, to the finish line. They all won! They all came in first! Everyone in the stadium stood, cheering went on for ten minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. People who weren’t even there, say they were. 

You see, as a Christian, you don’t have to win. Maybe you need to slow yourself down and change your course to help someone, to partner with someone, to reconcile with someone, to encourage someone. When you do that you will have peace within and peace with God. 

Let us pray: God of love, we thank you for this day. Forgive us when we lash out at others and at you. Forgive us and make us whole, with the capacity to sense your presence, your strength, your grace, and your love. By sensing your unconditional love, make us able to uphold others in their grief and pain and loneliness. We ask these things in the name of your son, our redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.