Finishing well

After all the build-up, excitement, gold medals, torch bearers, opening and closing ceremonies, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games became a distant memory in our minds. Quite often in life, we are told how important it is to finish well and if this was the motto for the 2012 Games there would be no shortage of role models of what it means to do just that, finish well.

And so as I come to the end of my role as Olympic and Paralympic Co-ordinator for the Diocese of Oxford thoughts turn to what it means to finish well. As someone who has trained repeatedly to run marathons I know that to finish well begins with the training right at the very start and to succeed requires a plan that involves consistency, pacing yourself to the degree that there is sufficient energy left in the tank to get you to the finish line in reasonably good form. Therefore I don’t believe for one moment that finishing well is just about what happened during the Games themselves or even the last few weeks or months of the role I have occupied for the past two or so years but what took place from the start of the role in September 2010 to the end in December 2012. 

 

For me, one of the highlights of the Games was watching men and women as teammates cheering one another on. From swimming and diving to cycling and gymnastics, athletes supported each other in the pursuit of a common goal, to represent their country to the best of their abilities.

This is the same goal for the church to have men and women leaders come together in solidarity to support one another and work together for the common goal of bringing the love of Jesus to our communities. This for me is what the whole two years was about, a sense of purpose, meaning, passion and integrity, to see the whole thing through to the end whatever the cost.

The Olympics has broken all silence and has caused volunteers, supporters and even the odd Londoner to chat to one another about the excitement of the Games. There will never be a prouder moment than when GB won their first gold medal. The whole country appears to be on top of the world. The challenge now is to stay on top of the world in 2013, but the 'can do' attitude that came through for the Games must be at the forefront of our minds.

My hope and prayer is that this will be the beginning of a new era of moving beyond our insecurities and pride, leveraging each individual's strengths and gifts, when finishing well means encouraging each to perform to our full potential.