Olympics and a Word from the LORD

As a sports lover and Canadian we like many of you watched
the opening ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic games.

The opening presentation was both entertaining and amazing,
and it also successfully try to display the many different places
and peoples that make our great land so great, which is a gift
from GOD.

But sadly, the games came at a HUGE COST. We are not talking about
the politics and budgets that bureaucrats like to argue over. The loss
was about the life of a fellow Olympian and fellow human which over-shadowed
and rightly so, the opening grand ceremonies.

The terrible news was of the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili,
a 21-year-old Georgian luger on his practice run, attempting
to fulfill a dream to participate for his country and family
in the Olympics.

We saw the Georgian Team, participate in their order of countries announced
and came in wearing black scarfs and arm bands to mourn the loss of their friend.

The stadium did the right thing by giving them a standing ovation as they
toured the track and announced the Georgian Olympic team was leaving.

I have now heard, that they might in fact stay and compete instead, but
Love allows them to make the right choice, which is what is best for them.

May the PEACE of the LORD, heal and comfort Nodar's family and friends
and their nation at this difficult time.

And of course the Olympics did the right things, by having a moment of
silence and mentioning Nodar many times in their speeches.

Finally it came to the highlight of the night, the lighting of the torch
and the only talk in Canada on every radio station was, who was going to
light the torch?

There was a delay and one of the Olympic Torch Arms didn't rise. In fact
the whole thing delayed a few anxious moments to get it going. If you didn't
see it, these 4 arms were to rise out of the floor and ignite the middle
pillar. Only 3 of the 4 arms lifted up!

The LORD spoke...

"The reason the 4th arm didn't rise during the 'torch lighting' ceremony
was to remind everyone of fellow brother who didn't rise yesterday but
died tragically. Light represents life, and by it not rising, it shows
that the Olympics is about unity and that is what I am about. You feel
a loss of unity with death - which is separation"

"It couldn't rise - when one of your stars didn't rise"

If we can remember that these are 'games' and as we say at home, games
are supposed to be fun. If they are not fun anymore - why do you play it?
But life is not a game, and the loss of medal or a match isn't something to get
angered about, when someone just lost their life.

"So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of
these little ones perish. Matthew 18:14