Ma’am, you “car” not do that!

Welcome to “Athlos” a weekly blog which examines pillars of personal excellence and regularly brings together the worlds of Christian spirituality and sport.

Exposed

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account”-Hebrews 4:13

Explained

Playing by the rules is nothing new. Whatever the field of endeavour may be, participants are called to be compliant with the governing regulations. It is the foundation of order in society.

This truth was brought forward rather conspicuously last week when an ultra-marathon runner, as described by the BBC, experienced pain during the race and had to respond to her discomfort. What she did next was understandable: she took a ride in a car to the next checkpoint. That would not have been a problem once she disclosed what happened. Sadly, she did not.

Having been in the car for 2.5 miles, she continued running and crossed the finish line in third place. Still, no transparency. She posed for pictures and accepted her medal and trophy. The woman who came fourth was the real bronze medal winner but was robbed of her moment of glory.

The truth was exposed by another competitor.  The errant runner suggested that she was not thinking straight at the end, and this somehow contributed to her behaviour. She has since come forward publicly admitting her misdemeanour. Was it an explanation or an excuse? Did she make her confession only because she was caught?

Perhaps you have been tempted to be less than forthright when you found yourself in an uncomfortable situation. The true test of integrity is being honest before being exposed. The lessons are clear. Walk in the light and pursue transparency. In any event, God sees it all. Everything we do and think is open before Divine lenses. Openness breeds trust. Trust builds confidence. Confidence brings security. Security promotes inner peace. That is more valuable than any medal or trophy.

Examined

An examined life is the foundation of a successful life.

If you were inspired by this blog, please consider sharing it with one other person today. To learn more about these and other related themes that promote the cultivation of an integrated inner self, read UNBEATABLE! which is available on Amazon in print and as an e-book.