You and I may not be Olympic athletes, but every day, we must choose between living with integrity or taking the seemingly easier way of compromising with what we know is right. In this race we call "life", there's really only one right choice.
Alright, pop quiz! Don't worry—there are only two questions, and they're multiple choice. First question: Who was the 1994 Olympic men's giant slalom gold medalist? Was it…
Which figure skater was stripped of her 1994 title because of her involvement in a plot to shatter a rival skater's kneecaps? Was it…
Why is that? Markus Wasmeier won two gold medals in Lillehammer; Tonya Harding only took eighth place in one event. But we remember her over Wasmeier because she was caught doing something dishonorable. There are many honorable gold medalists during the Olympics; unfortunately there are sometimes a few participants exposed as cheaters.
Did you know that in Ancient Greece, where our modern-day Olympic Games have their roots, cheaters weren't quickly forgotten, either? Several months ago I had the opportunity to visit the site of the original Olympics in Greece. As we walked down the ramp leading into the stadium, we noticed a row of short pedestals on one side. We assumed these were for statues of the great Olympians, but our guide explained that these pedestals had a very different purpose. Those caught bending the rules or manipulating the system were fined heavily. The resulting funds were used to commission a bronze statue of Zeus, put on display and often engraved with the offense and the name of the offender, as well as a warning to those who would attempt the same.
Most people have forgotten that Tonya Harding, in her heyday, was an outstanding figure skater. She was the first woman to perform the difficult triple axle twice in the same competition. She finished second in the 1991 World Championships. Yet for all this, the most common phrase associated with her is not "triple axle" or "record setter," but "kneecaps."
When we compromise our integrity, we can destroy years of hard work and achievements, and regaining the trust and respect of others becomes a difficult, if not impossible, task. The Bible explains, "He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known" (Proverbs 10:9, NKJV).
The stories of courage and determination we often see in the Olympics can be inspiring, and those athletes who have worked so hard to uphold the highest standards deserve our admiration and praise. King Solomon was right when he said, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." (Proverbs 22:1, NIV)
You and I may not be Olympic athletes, but every day, we must choose between living with integrity or taking the seemingly easier way of compromising with what we know is right. In this race we call "life", there's really only one right choice.
Alright, pop quiz! Don't worry—there are only two questions, and they're multiple choice. First question: Who was the 1994 Olympic men's giant slalom gold medalist? Was it…
- Ingemar Stenmark
- Markus Wasmeier
- Alberto Tomba [or]
- Heini Hemmi
Which figure skater was stripped of her 1994 title because of her involvement in a plot to shatter a rival skater's kneecaps? Was it…
- Michelle Kwan
- Kristi Yamaguchi
- Tonya Harding [or]
- Tara Lipinski
Why is that? Markus Wasmeier won two gold medals in Lillehammer; Tonya Harding only took eighth place in one event. But we remember her over Wasmeier because she was caught doing something dishonorable. There are many honorable gold medalists during the Olympics; unfortunately there are sometimes a few participants exposed as cheaters.
Did you know that in Ancient Greece, where our modern-day Olympic Games have their roots, cheaters weren't quickly forgotten, either? Several months ago I had the opportunity to visit the site of the original Olympics in Greece. As we walked down the ramp leading into the stadium, we noticed a row of short pedestals on one side. We assumed these were for statues of the great Olympians, but our guide explained that these pedestals had a very different purpose. Those caught bending the rules or manipulating the system were fined heavily. The resulting funds were used to commission a bronze statue of Zeus, put on display and often engraved with the offense and the name of the offender, as well as a warning to those who would attempt the same.
Most people have forgotten that Tonya Harding, in her heyday, was an outstanding figure skater. She was the first woman to perform the difficult triple axle twice in the same competition. She finished second in the 1991 World Championships. Yet for all this, the most common phrase associated with her is not "triple axle" or "record setter," but "kneecaps."
When we compromise our integrity, we can destroy years of hard work and achievements, and regaining the trust and respect of others becomes a difficult, if not impossible, task. The Bible explains, "He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known" (Proverbs 10:9, NKJV).
The stories of courage and determination we often see in the Olympics can be inspiring, and those athletes who have worked so hard to uphold the highest standards deserve our admiration and praise. King Solomon was right when he said, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." (Proverbs 22:1, NIV)
You and I may not be Olympic athletes, but every day, we must choose between living with integrity or taking the seemingly easier way of compromising with what we know is right. In this race we call "life", there's really only one right choice.
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