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Healthy Living
Be the Best and Win
by Dean Ehrenheim
This article was featured in the September 2008
issue of Bluegrass Christian Magazine.
As I write this article I am enjoying the
Beijing Olympics. It is difficult to compre-
hend the amount of sacrifice, learning,
training and investment (in time and
money) that those athletes have given
to be the best. Watching Michael Phelps
perform merman-like feats of impossibility,
sitting on the edge of the seat to witness
the gymnastic dream team of Nastia
Luikin and Shawn Johnson, or viewing
the Jamaican Bolt crush world records
at will, the commitment to be the best
has been paid by these Olympians.
Being the best is something we should
all strive for. If we see nothing else from
these quadrennial games, we should at
least see that. Training to be the best is
the only way to be the best. That can’t be
done unless there is action to go along with it.
Even with sacrifices, being the best is never a “given.” Stars like Lolo Jones know that all too well. Lolo, a
pre-race favorite in the 110 hurdles, clearly led the final race until she kicked the 9th hurdle, slowing her
to a near standstill. By the time she recovered, all but one racer had passed her. There truly is the thrill of
victory and the agony of defeat.
We may not be the next Olympic phenom, not many are, but we still have a responsibility to attempt to be.
God has gifted each of us with some measure of talent. That talent can be anything from athletics, to
academics, to hospitality, to empathy, to leadership. Any of those gifts can encompass an entire article or
book in and of themselves.
In keeping with the Olympic theme, I would like to challenge athletes to strive to be the best.
Of course, not everyone can win. Each time Michael Phelps touched the wall first, there were 7 losers
around him. Anyone who has ever competed understands that some athletes are gifted, while others may
not be gifted but are hard workers. Either way, it is easy for onlookers to see who has paid the price and
who has truly set a high mark for effort. Those athletes are respected among their peers, whether they
win or not. They have at least tried. How does all this square with the Bible?
In the 9th chapter of Corinthians we see a Biblical perspective very plainly. “Do you not know that in a
race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who
competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to
get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a
man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I
myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” Regardless of your place or sport, the Bible instructs us to
run (compete) to win.
The Bible goes on to say how to win. That passage in Corinthians gives us that answer, too. The training
is not casual…it is strict. I often hear that practice makes perfect. As a former swim coach, I know that is
not true. Only perfect practice makes perfect. Think about it. Our bodies have a certain muscle make-up
and physical range of motion. That range of motion and physical flexibility eventually becomes so
consistent over time that motions and
movements are done without thought. If those motions and movements are wrong or “not the best,” there
is very little chance of changing that motion in the heat of competition. Everyone was amazed by Michael
Phelp’s race turns. Do you think he simply loafed turns in practice and “stepped it up” for the
competition? Or did he train those turns just like he performed them in the Olympics….what do you think?
Winning should be the goal and remembering that in training is essential. While winning is a legitimate
goal, theverse challenges us to an even higher calling than athletic success – spiritual success. It is easy
to place our athletic aspirations above our spiritual goals, but Corinthians clearly states that our worldly
success is “temporary”—striving for “a crown that will not last,” but we, as believers, have a goal to witness
to others so as to gain a “crown that will last forever.”
Watching an athlete’s reaction in victory or defeat says a lot about who they really are. God wants us to
havea testimony, through how we live our lives, and even how we compete, that does not disqualify us for
the prize (which is imperishable).
Lolo Jones from Des Moines, Iowa lost a race she had prepared for. A race she had sacrificed for. A race
that God had gifted her in. A race that everyone expected her to win. A race she was winning…until the
unfortunate reality of life stepped in to spoil all her plans. I was impressed with Michael Phelps, but I was
stunned by Lolo Jones. Without even
having a moment to collect her thoughts, the NBC reporter asked her how she felt. She made no excuses
and said it just was not hers to win today. Obviously disappointed, she still exhibited great character and
her true nature shined through.
Later in an interview she said, “Winning medals is the most incredible thing, but at the same time, I always
say there have been races where I have fallen and had to pick myself up. That has defined me as a
person.” It is often in these times of trial that we can learn most about a person’s character. I admire Lolo
for the way she handled herself in such an obvious disappointment. There were no excuses, just fire from
within to try again. We all have a measure of talent. We are obligated by our Creator to develop it. The
running great, Steve Prefontaine said, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” I
agree. Christian athletes should be setting the highest standard for work, team spirit, and sacrifice.
Winning is OK.
Just remember, it won’t only be your wins that define you as a person. More than likely it will be your
journey, your sacrifices and even your failures. Whatever level you reach athletically, the training doesn’t
end when you take off your racing shoes. The higher principle is to live for Christ, just as fervently as you
have trained for the “Gold.”
Dean Ehrenheim is CEO of the Owensboro Family YMCA.
by Dean Ehrenheim
This article was featured in the September 2008
issue of Bluegrass Christian Magazine.
As I write this article I am enjoying the
Beijing Olympics. It is difficult to compre-
hend the amount of sacrifice, learning,
training and investment (in time and
money) that those athletes have given
to be the best. Watching Michael Phelps
perform merman-like feats of impossibility,
sitting on the edge of the seat to witness
the gymnastic dream team of Nastia
Luikin and Shawn Johnson, or viewing
the Jamaican Bolt crush world records
at will, the commitment to be the best
has been paid by these Olympians.
Being the best is something we should
all strive for. If we see nothing else from
these quadrennial games, we should at
least see that. Training to be the best is
the only way to be the best. That can’t be
done unless there is action to go along with it.
Even with sacrifices, being the best is never a “given.” Stars like Lolo Jones know that all too well. Lolo, a
pre-race favorite in the 110 hurdles, clearly led the final race until she kicked the 9th hurdle, slowing her
to a near standstill. By the time she recovered, all but one racer had passed her. There truly is the thrill of
victory and the agony of defeat.
We may not be the next Olympic phenom, not many are, but we still have a responsibility to attempt to be.
God has gifted each of us with some measure of talent. That talent can be anything from athletics, to
academics, to hospitality, to empathy, to leadership. Any of those gifts can encompass an entire article or
book in and of themselves.
In keeping with the Olympic theme, I would like to challenge athletes to strive to be the best.
Of course, not everyone can win. Each time Michael Phelps touched the wall first, there were 7 losers
around him. Anyone who has ever competed understands that some athletes are gifted, while others may
not be gifted but are hard workers. Either way, it is easy for onlookers to see who has paid the price and
who has truly set a high mark for effort. Those athletes are respected among their peers, whether they
win or not. They have at least tried. How does all this square with the Bible?
In the 9th chapter of Corinthians we see a Biblical perspective very plainly. “Do you not know that in a
race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who
competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to
get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a
man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I
myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” Regardless of your place or sport, the Bible instructs us to
run (compete) to win.
The Bible goes on to say how to win. That passage in Corinthians gives us that answer, too. The training
is not casual…it is strict. I often hear that practice makes perfect. As a former swim coach, I know that is
not true. Only perfect practice makes perfect. Think about it. Our bodies have a certain muscle make-up
and physical range of motion. That range of motion and physical flexibility eventually becomes so
consistent over time that motions and
movements are done without thought. If those motions and movements are wrong or “not the best,” there
is very little chance of changing that motion in the heat of competition. Everyone was amazed by Michael
Phelp’s race turns. Do you think he simply loafed turns in practice and “stepped it up” for the
competition? Or did he train those turns just like he performed them in the Olympics….what do you think?
Winning should be the goal and remembering that in training is essential. While winning is a legitimate
goal, theverse challenges us to an even higher calling than athletic success – spiritual success. It is easy
to place our athletic aspirations above our spiritual goals, but Corinthians clearly states that our worldly
success is “temporary”—striving for “a crown that will not last,” but we, as believers, have a goal to witness
to others so as to gain a “crown that will last forever.”
Watching an athlete’s reaction in victory or defeat says a lot about who they really are. God wants us to
havea testimony, through how we live our lives, and even how we compete, that does not disqualify us for
the prize (which is imperishable).
Lolo Jones from Des Moines, Iowa lost a race she had prepared for. A race she had sacrificed for. A race
that God had gifted her in. A race that everyone expected her to win. A race she was winning…until the
unfortunate reality of life stepped in to spoil all her plans. I was impressed with Michael Phelps, but I was
stunned by Lolo Jones. Without even
having a moment to collect her thoughts, the NBC reporter asked her how she felt. She made no excuses
and said it just was not hers to win today. Obviously disappointed, she still exhibited great character and
her true nature shined through.
Later in an interview she said, “Winning medals is the most incredible thing, but at the same time, I always
say there have been races where I have fallen and had to pick myself up. That has defined me as a
person.” It is often in these times of trial that we can learn most about a person’s character. I admire Lolo
for the way she handled herself in such an obvious disappointment. There were no excuses, just fire from
within to try again. We all have a measure of talent. We are obligated by our Creator to develop it. The
running great, Steve Prefontaine said, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” I
agree. Christian athletes should be setting the highest standard for work, team spirit, and sacrifice.
Winning is OK.
Just remember, it won’t only be your wins that define you as a person. More than likely it will be your
journey, your sacrifices and even your failures. Whatever level you reach athletically, the training doesn’t
end when you take off your racing shoes. The higher principle is to live for Christ, just as fervently as you
have trained for the “Gold.”
Dean Ehrenheim is CEO of the Owensboro Family YMCA.
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