When Athletes Proclaim Their Faith

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

Proclaim

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; proclaim His deeds among the peoples”-Psalm 105:1

Unashamed

Have you thanked God lately? I am not talking about “grace before meals” here, even though that does count on the gratitude ladder. What I am referring to is a deep and thoughtful expression of thanks for the continual Divine Presence that takes us through each day and protects us from harms we often do not see.

I want to become a man who has an unending posture of gratitude, conscious of the big and small gifts I receive day in and day out. If I slow down and ponder enough, I am sure to find numerous opportunities to give thanks.

From time to time, those of us in the sports sector see athletes who come forward and remember to honour God when they are victorious. It is heartwarming to see, because it could be tempting for top sportsmen and sportswomen to suggest that success came solely because of their diligence. No doubt, their hard work contributed meaningfully to their achievements. Yet, no one ever comes out on top through their own solitary effort.

Trinidad and Tobago runner Jereem Richards recently brought a smile to his countrymen and many others as he won the gold medal in the 400m race at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Serbia. One of the special features of his victory was his dedication to his former teammate Deon Lendore who tragically died in a vehicular accident earlier this year.

Jereem did not forget. He acknowledged Lendore after the race. He remembered his training partner Wayde Van Niekerk who offered him valuable advice along the way.  Yet, and perhaps most significantly, he exalted his Creator. These were his words as reported by the Daily Express: “I just wanna take the time to thank everyone that lifted me up in prayer. Thank you to my family and friends for your support!!!! All praise and glory goes to God.” Congrats, Jereem-on many levels.

Unhindered by fame

In a world where open proclamation of faith is not always welcome, I am inspired by public figures whose fame is not a hindrance to proclaiming God’s name.   

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.