If you've been reading here very long, you know I love the Olympics, so I'm in the middle of one of my favorite times right about now!
My friend Amber "watches" them with me every night. (She lives two hours away, but she watches them at her house, and I watch them at our house, and then we text about it.) I told her last night that this hasn't been my favorite Olympics ever - and I finally figured out why.
I miss all the human-interest stories! (To be fair...we don't get to watch everything, of course, because of work, so maybe they do air them when I'm not watching!)
But I remember first falling in love with the Olympics back in the mid 90s when Dan Jansen won the gold in speed skating. I sat in my Grandma's living room in Marion (which later would become my living room!) and watched them share his story. You should look it up if you don't know or remember him. But watching him skate to gold and feeling the absolute JOY of that victory after so much heartache was the beginning of my love for the Olympics.
And over the years, it's always been the stories that got me - way more than the sports. Of course I appreciate the talent the athletes have and the hard work they put into their training, but for me it always comes back to the stories. I love hearing where they came from, how they fell in love with their sport, and the highs and lows of their careers to that point.
This year I can't even recall a single montage of an athlete's story. I hear announcers read bits and pieces of stories as athletes appear for competition, but it's just not the same - at least for me. I miss the stories of old.
It confirms that the passion God has placed in my heart for people to share their stories is still a passion for me. And that brings me to a reminder for you today.
Your story matters. Where you came from, what stirs passion in your heart, the highs and lows of what the Lord has brought you through - all of that matters. It's been a while since I encouraged you to capture your stories, but I'm encouraging you today! Only you can share your own story in the deepest way. It doesn't matter if you aren't a polished writer. It just matters that you take time to capture the pieces of your life so they're preserved for generations to come.
I miss the Olympic stories this year. And I don't want you to miss the importance of your own story!
4 comments:
I've seen a few this year, but not as many. I imagine covid got in the way...
My husband and I were just talking today that I need to write our story, if only for the family, it needs to be written if only to illistrate their roots and more importantly, how God has lead us and has been with us.
My mom wrote the story of their ministry (Dad was a Nazaren pastor) and it is a powerful story. It has been shared beyond the family.
Yes, our stories matter.
Thank you for sharing so much on your blog.
Also, I have not been happy with the Olympics this year either, but I thought it was because I have been so sick since Christmas. Hm.... maybe, though, it is because the human interest part has been such a small part of it this year.
Tamar - I am sure that is a big part of it. I think I secretly hoped for Zoom interviews at least!
Gaylene - I am so sorry you've been so sick!!! I hope you're on the mend!! And when you feel stronger, yes! Write that story!
I love this, and yes, I agree.- the stories really make the Olympics inspiring and special! It's too bad they haven't shared the athletes stories this year.
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