What price fame?
The news this week is all about Lance Armstrong and his finally admitting to taking performance enhancing drugs after years of denial. It’s bad enough that he took the drugs, it’s worse that he lied for all these years, but even worse that he ruined the lives of others that tried to get at the truth while he was denying it. What is it about us humans, that we will do almost anything to get attention, to be praised, honored, to have fame??!! I was once guilty of being obsessed with getting attention and respect. I understand the need, I don’t understand sacrificing anything to get it.
Some years ago a sports team that I followed and loved, lost a game on a last second shot. I exploded with anger. After I calmed down my wife ask me who was the champion two years before? I didn’t know, two years later it didn’t matter, it probably didn’t matter three months later, but yet I was acting like it was the end of the world. As I said that was some years ago, in recent years I’ve come to understand that following sports can really be fun because, in the end, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t change anything about life, it’s just a game.
I don’t think God minds us enjoying sports, and games, but I feel certain He doesn’t want them to rule our lives, He doesn’t want anything to rule our lives accept Him! I wish Lance had admitted his actions when he was first asked about them. I would have admired him more for that, than all those trophies.
What price are we willing to pay for things that, in the end, don’t matter anyway?
blessings,
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 15th, 2013 at 11:51 pm
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Amen my friend. My husband is a semi-recovered sports addict from his pre-salvation years, but now says the same thing you did. It’s okay to be passionate about sports so long as they don’t take the place of the one and only True Love! I agree about Armstrong’s decisions to sacrifice what he did for titles and accolades. So sad what’s realized only when it’s too late. I’m sure now he’d say it wasn’t worth it.
I hope he would, it’s not worth much now.
Well said Bill. We seem to feel the need to be successful and held in high esteem on this earth no matter what the cost. Each year I believe I understand better that The Lord is the one I need to look to for the peace that only He can supply. He reminds me daily that without Him I would make a real mess of things. Thanks for your posts. I find inspiration in reading them.
Thank God for wives that yank us back when we go over the line. Mine does.
Amen, amen!
Chuck, I agree, with every year, month and day, the Lord shows me more clearly what I am to do to satisfy Him, not the world!
Such good points. Just like today’s In Touch devotion regarding God’s viewpoint on Money. So many things in our life are sacrificed by one obsession or another. I always need to remind myself about the cost of a lie vs. the pain of truth. In the end which one is going to cost you more or cause you more pain. The truth can seem more painful at first but it is always better. Thank you again for your continued ministry.
Thanks Myles, for joining me!
Well said
Years ago I remember an ongoing discussion with a friend about who was the greatest Athlete in the world. He said Lance Armstrong and I said Tiger Woods. Now, years later, and with everything that has come to light about their lives, it’s obvious that we were asking the wrong question. It’s not what we do, but who we are. And who we are is all about Who we know and that’s the Lord. Do we love Him, and walk with Him daily? Do we have a relationship with Jesus. Knowing Him is what life is all about. Thanks for your great post here Bill.