Flash Back - A Lesson from Michael Phelps

Dear Friends,
I have been wanting to post this for several months now, but other things intervened. Below is my newsletter column for September 2008. This was written long before Michael Phelps got in trouble with the law. Despite some recent misdeeds, I hope we can look back at what Michael Phelps did 14 months ago, and be inspired to take that extra half-stroke to achieve victory in our lives.
Peace and Harmony,
Clayton

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From Your Pastor…
If you’re like me, you were practically glued to the television set from August 8-24, watching the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. I have always enjoyed watching the Olympics, both Summer and Winter games. It’s exciting to see athletes from all over the world come together in one place and compete in a series of events that only come around once every four years. Even though world championship competitions are held every year for all of the major sports, there’s nothing quite like the excitement and spectacle of the Olympics.

The 2008 Beijing games were especially phenomenal. Michael Phelps, a 23 year old swimmer from Baltimore, made history by breaking several significant records this summer. Phelps won 8 gold medals in Beijing, breaking Mark Spitz’ record of 7 gold medals in a single Olympic games. Combined with six gold medals won at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic games, Phelps now holds the record for most Olympic gold medals in a career. Phelps’ performance in Beijing also makes him the record holder for: (a) most individual Olympic gold medals in a career, (b) most individual Olympic gold medals in a single games, and (c) most Olympic medals in a career for an American.

All 8 events in which Phelps competed this summer were exciting to watch. But the one that impressed me the most was the 100 meter butterfly (also known as the “100m fly”). An Olympic-size pool is 50 meters in length. So for the 100m fly, the swimmers swim to the far end of the pool and then back to the starting line, using the butterfly stroke both lengths of the pool. The 100m fly was Phelps 7th event. He had already won 6 gold medals, set 6 world records, and broken the record for most career gold medals. All eyes were on Phelps for the 100m fly, because if he won this event, he would tie Mark Spitz’ Olympic record, a record held since 1972.

Despite Phelps’ spectacular performances up to this point, Milorad Cavic from Serbia was favored by many to win the 100m fly. As the race began Cavic took an early lead, with Phelps in second place. At the half-way mark, Cavic was still ahead. At 75 meters (3/4 of the way through the race), Cavic continued to be out in front, and it looked like he would win. However, in the last few seconds of the race, something amazing happened. Cavic took his final stroke and then glided toward the finish line. Phelps would have done the same thing; yet for some unknown reason, he felt compelled to take an extra half-stroke. The television commentators thought Phelps’ unusual half-stroke was going to cost him the race. But the exact opposite happened. That half-stroke gave Phelps enough momentum to beat Cavic by one hundredth (0.01) of a second!

What an amazing finish! Phelps almost lost the race. Had Phelps stuck with his usual stroke pattern, Cavic would have won the race, ending Phelps’ efforts to make Olympic history. But by doing something different and unusual—adding an unheard of half-stroke—Phelps went on to win the race and make history.

We in the church can learn some valuable lessons from Michael Phelps’ amazing performance in the 100m fly. When we find ourselves falling behind and losing “the race,” we need to try something different. Instead of just gliding along in our usual fashion and hoping for the best, we need to insert a “half-stroke”. At crucial moments in the life of the church when our situation seems especially difficult or challenging, we need to do something that will give us an extra boost—something that will give us the “oomph” we need to reach our goals.

God wants us to be champions. Not necessarily Olympic champions, but champions for the Kingdom of Heaven. Anyone want to go swimming?