Have you noticed how dark network news has become? Divisive and depressing. Yet some of the Olympic gold stories reported by trustworthy sources shine a bright light that makes us smile and illuminates our own pathway to success.

That was the case for me when I read about Fiji’s rugby team winning Olympic gold. The Colson Center’s Breakpoint on 8/5/21 described the moments after the Fijians took Olympic gold in Tokyo:

They got on their knees, they prayed to God in thanksgiving, and sang a hymn of praise. It was so beautiful. It’s a traditional tune that contains these words, “We have overcome, by the blood of the lamb, and the word of the Lord, we have overcome.”

Many news outlets didn’t elaborate on the words of that song, but it contained the biblical concepts that helped these athletes reach their goal and have also helped me reach mine. These standards can help you crush yours as well:

Persevering through the obstacles

When COVID-19 hit the small island nation of  Fiji, its underdeveloped healthcare system was overwhelmed. For the past five months, to avoid the risk of infection, the rugby team quarantined in Australia. Not being allowed to return home was espescially tough on the team captain Jerry Tuwai. An Insider article by Jackson Thompson on July 29th, 2021 explained why:

“I have three kids, so it is really hard for me,” Tuwai said in a press conference. “We have our ups and downs in camp. It’s a long story. I nearly jumped camp because I missed them and we are really close. 

According to the Insider article, traveling to Tokyo wasn’t any easier. The pandemic grounded most flights to Tokyo, so the rubgy team caught a ride on a cargo plane full of frozen fish.

Sticking it out when the going gets tough is a principle taught in the Bible. James 1:12 says:

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Sometimes my obstacles in finishing this book project have felt almost as daunting as those faced by athletes. During the pandemic, like most people, I isolated but instead of having extra time to put together puzzles, clean cupboards, and binge watch TV series, I worked hard. After doing a lot of research and adding in strategic quotes, some beta readers heped me realize the quotes bogged down the story. So I had to take them all out. Then I had to rewrite to weave in the concepts that could speak to today’s culture. Again and again, I’ve been tempted to give up, but one thing kept me going, I was going for something even better than Olympic gold, the crown of life.

Focusing on the Goal

The Fiji athletes must have known how much it would mean to their nation if they could win, especially in the midst of the pandemic. To have another victory in their beloved sport, Rugby sevens, would give the country something to celebrate like it did when they won gold in Rio in 2016. Only this time the win would be even more significant. They had sacrificed so much to get to Tokyo to achieve Olympic gold for their country. And, after the pandemic’s pain, the nation needed something to celebrate.

My goal made the sacrifices and perseverance worthwhile, too.  More than anything, I want people to understand how much our Creator wants a relationship with us, that His love exceeds any human romance, and that He makes life a grand adventure especially when we face our greatest fears and disappointments. Every time I want to quit (yes, sometimes I still do as the tasks of launching a book are daunting), I reflect on the importance of finishing what I started to the best of my ability for the sake of others.

Setting Aside “Self”

Caring about others more than my “self” is another biblical standard that leads to Olympic gold. Philippians 2:3-4 instructs us to:

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Imagine a world where everyone puts that into practice. Rather than focusing on our own pleasure and desires, we make the necessary sacrifices to accomplish higher purposes. Tuwai deeply wanted to be with his family, but his nation needed him for a higher purpose. That sacrifice made accomplishing the goal all the sweeter, worthy of giving glory to our Creator. The same is true for any of us who work with a higher purpose in mind, and Christ has a higher purpose for each of us. However, the only way to walk into it is to set aside our own agendas.

Celebrating with Joy

Some news outlets failed to mention that the Fijian hymn sung by the athletes after winning Olympic gold gave glory to God. The words are worth emphasizing:

“We have overcome, by the blood of the lamb, and the word of the Lord, we have overcome.

By the word of God and the blood of the lamb–I’ll be singing those lyrics when The Windblown Girl: A Memoir about Self, Sexuality, and Social Justice launches, barring unforeseen circumstances in October.

Psalm 40:3 encourages us to celebrate our accomplishments by acknowledging the One who deserves all the glory:

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the Lord.

That’s my hope and desire. How about you? Can your objective be reached by focusing on biblical principles, one that will give you a new song to sing? I’d love to read about it in the comments. And if you’re interested in participating in a book launch party, either in person or on Zoom, shoot me an email to Patti@ptcovert.com/ or subscribe below to keep up to date on these events.