The Olympics are over and the torch has been snuffed out. Athletes from around the globe await flights to take them back home; some with medals and some with crushed dreams.
For well-known Christian athletes like Gabby Douglas, she celebrates her win by giving glory to God with her often quoted, I give all the glory to God. It’s kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to him and the blessings fall down on me. But her open belief in God’s protection and favor isn’t sitting well with some.
For example, Christian writer Mary Elizabeth Williams criticized her in a recent Salon article regarding Gabby’s, as she claims, God of Parking Spaces theology of protection, favor, and gold medals.
As a Christian myself (albeit one of those really freaky papist kinds), I’ve often wondered what it is about Christians like Douglas that unnerves me so. The closest I’ve been able to figure it is that Douglas and her ilk seem to espouse a faith based on what is commonly referred to as “The God of Parking Spaces.” It’s the deity that grants wishes to those who ask nicely. Douglas is a girl who has described God as the figure who’s “waking me up every morning and keeping me safe in the gym every day.”She told People Thursday, “I was on the bus and it was raining and I thought, ‘It’s going to be a great day.’ My mom used to tell me when I was little, ‘When it rains, it’s God’s manifestation, a big day’s waiting to happen.’ I texted my mom, ‘It’s raining. You know what that means.’” It means that Russian girl is going down, I guess.
Compare this to the heartbreaking loss of Lolo Jones [my favorite captain of the V-train]. In a tragic .10 second loss from a medal, the countless hours of training, sacrifice, and dedication were gone in less than a second. After the loss, she tweeted from her hotel room, In room Singing Desert song by Hillsong. Its on repeat. Lord Jesus please comfort me, guide me & heal my broken heart.
Both Gabby and Lolo spoke honestly in their moment of sheer pain and sheer joy. Much like David in the Psalms, we have a dichotomy of emotions given our circumstances which I love and appreciate. In a way, we can see God’s involvement even in athletic heartbreak and success. When Tim Tebow makes the winning play, when Gabby sticks her landing, when Jeremy Lin sinks a basket, God’s there. But when Tebow fumbles, or Lin misses his shot, or when Gabby falls off the beam, isn’t God in those moments as well? Did they not pray enough? Did they not pray the right words? Has God withheld His hand of favor?
Lolo [I can call her by her first name now because we’re cool like that] said it best: I never prayed to win a gold medal at the Olympics and never will. The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want. May His will be done. We can learn a thing or two from Miss Jones’ theology: Trust God in the depths of Olympic despair as much as in the heights of Olympic glory.
As Christians we will face loss, failure, and heartbreak. We need to develop a theology to withstand the joy of winning and the pain of loss. With or without a Olympic medal podium.
And if anyone knows Lolo and how to score an interview with her, let me know! Don’t you want to see a vlog with her? Come on! Hook a sister up. 😉
That really says something & speaks volumes to my heart that she has never prayed to win a gold medal. Really awesome. Thanks for sharing!
If you do get an interview, can there be a live audience? 😉
Love this! I do want to see a vlog with her! She is such an inspiration for me! Thanks for the post! 🙂
great blog! love what you said about developing a theology that goes beyond good or bad, winning or losing. God is always there in the midst of struggle, victory and whatever else you face!
Yes, I too would love to see that vlog w/ Lolo. Only connection we have is that we’re both from Iowa! 🙂
Bianca! Lolo is from Des Moines right where I live. But I have no such high-celebrity status “hook up” for you….Gabby’s training gym is 10 mins from my house, but alas, no “hook up”. We can certainly show you around town while you try to score then vlog interview though!! 🙂
Good stuff, B! Miss you.
I have a hard time criticizing the faith of anyone who’s willing to speak out very publicly for Jesus… It’s tough enough to be a Christian teenager these days.
{To clarify: I don’t think you were criticizing her, Bianca. And, I don’t agree with the “God is great as evidenced by my blessings” theology… But, I also don’t know that a handful of “in the moment” interviews allow us to get a full picture of anyone’s theology. I also think she showed great sportsmanship and class even in her losses, and I didn’t see any interviews after those losses where she had the opportunity to share her continued faith.}
Another one to add to your list: David Boudia (not sure about the spelling). He won the gold in the 10m platform diving competition. But, a day or two before he won, he was 18th in pre-qualifications (in which only the top 18 divers advanced to the semi-finals). Immediately after pre-qualifications, he said [not a direct quote], “what’s great about this is that I knew through it all that God was sovereign. Whether I made it or not, I wasn’t worried because I knew God was in control.”
I have been very proud of the many athletes who have used their “mic-time” to glorify God in their wins and losses. Over and over again, I heard athletes proclaim God’s goodness and love. You have to be tough to endure the sudden fame and attention of the olympics. For years, you work hard and hardly anyone notices. Suddenly, you’re in the global spotlight and in your most emotional moment, someone shoves a mic in your face and asks awkward questions. To have the wherewithal to articulate your faith in those 30 seconds to someone who isn’t asking about it… wow.
Yes please on the vlogs. If you wait 6 months while the post-olympic hoopla dies down, you might have a better chance.
you’re so silly… if anyone knows lolo, huh? let me think about it.
and i really don’t like the sentiments of that writer… would she rather athletes just say “i just won because of me and my awesomeness.” let me not start ranting…
Having Lolo Jones would be awesome!! How humbling is it that she doesn’t pray for a medal.. that gives me a lot to think about….
Great post! If anyone knows Lolo, tell her she is a true winner with or without a medal!
You know, I don’t think it’s wrong theology to be praising God for being the one to help her win a gold medal. If we are accepting the good and the bad from the Lord and understanding that He gives and takes away, it seems that we ought to praise in BOTH situations. So I don’t really see why it is any different for Lolo to give God glory in the midst of having narrowly lost versus Gabby giving God the glory having won something historic. Both are God, who is the author of things that cause us both happiness and pain.
I love Lolo. She is a wise woman. There is no better place to be than nestled under the wing of Jesus. I am thankful for trials because Jesus has comforted me through things I never imagined I could survive. However, I struggle with celebrating the good times that Jesus blesses me with. In fact, this reminded me to pray about that.
However I think Gabby is also doing exactly what she (and we) is(are) supposed to:
“Psalm 22: 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,
and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred
the affliction of the afflicted,
and he has not hidden his face from him,
but has heard, when he cried to him.”
and Psalm 35 >>
New American Standard Bible
18 “I will give You thanks in the great congregation;
I will praise You among a mighty throng.”
I love and am so proud of (and I am grateful for) both of these ladies and most importantly, so is Jesus.
I keep thinking that Gabby is so young she hasn`t experienced the deserts of life like Lolo has. That when she`s older, wiser and been through a few more life experiences she`ll realize that God isn`t into temporary parking spaces but into permanent relationships.
Job`s: the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord kind of scenario.
(Does that make any sense??
I don’t know Lolo personally but I think you might be on your way to getting an interview with her if you contact the London Olympic 2012 games Media/Press office. Make sure you know what you’re going to say before you call. I know the Olympians are probably all home now but you never know if you pitch your story right, you may get the interview. You can find the official link on the official website here http://www.london2012.com/media-centre/
I think a blogger of your status and experience in interviewing leaders for your blog, can be considered Media, right? 🙂
Good luck!
I absolutely love this. God is just as present in the moments of despair as he is in the moments of glory. And both are used for good and both glorify him- if we let them.
Downloaded ‘Desert Song’ after reading this – needed it. Thank you 🙂