Maybe you get to see a bit of the Olympic games that are going on in Paris. Gymnastics, swimming, hockey, rugby, cycling, rowing, sailing, wave surfing. Although that last one is not taking place in Paris, but still on French soil in Tahiti.
Sometimes it is incredible what we get to see. I think often to myself: “How in the world is it possible that someone can do this?” We watch it on television in a couple of minutes. And we go on to the next incredible balancing act or power exertion.
Each and every performer in the Olympic games has a very, very long history of practicing. Not only the winners, but also the ones that just don’t make the podium of honour and come in fourth or fifth place and even the ones that end last in the standings.
I know a bit of it. Not at all comparable to the Olympic sports(wo)men, but still. My two sons were avid ice hockey players in their days. Maybe it was their Canadian roots through their mum’s side that brought it about. Because on my Dutch side, ice hockey is a non-sport in the Netherlands. Only for a small circle of initiated. Both my boys made it to the U-18 national team for a while.
The time and effort going into driving our boys to their twice or thrice-weekly practices, sometimes freakily early in the morning. Both my wife and I driving them to games in all corners of the Lowlands. The money we spent on gear, skates and especially hockey sticks… One composite ice hockey stick cost about 100 euro. Sometimes it was one stick per game. I’m sure the total of the hockey sticks would pay for a nice car altogether. It made me conclude: “Ice hockey is not a sport; it is a religion.”
We see the swimmers at the Olympics come up, they swim their laps in the race, they are in the stage lights for a brief moment. If they come out first, they have a lasting moment of glory. Otherwise, they are lost in history. That’s what we see. It is the top of the iceberg.
What we don’t see is the many, many hours of practicing. Alone in the pool. Pushing themselves. Finding their limits. They deny themselves a lot for their sport. Time with friends is limited. They keep a strict diet. They don’t splurge but have to be strict and disciplined. They focus. They spend a lot of time in the water. They practice. They train their muscles. They do power lifting. They run. They swim some more. For years on end.
This is not limited to sports. Anyone who wants to be someone great at something great, will have to be focused, spend the time and energy, choose what to invest time in and eventually be great at something. Whether it is a career, a great dad or mom, a great preacher, a great sound technician, a great bookkeeper, a great nurse, a great person.
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:5-6+11
If you want to be great at something, you need to put in the prolonged, consisted effort and stay focused.