Keeping Your Focus

I watched in primetime the Women's 100m hurdles final. Lo Lo Jones was the favorite. She started okay, then began turning it on, hurdling each barrier quicker and quicker. As she was pulling away, I saw her glance up at the Jumbotron in the stadium. She took her eyes off the prize.

Even in the post-race interview, she said that she could envision the gold medal around her neck. But! She did not stayed focused to the end of the race and lost the gold medal. She admitted that the race is clearing the hurdles cleanly. She did not get it done that night.

I recall that image of her sobbing in the stadium tunnel as a motiviational picture for me. I want to rehearse what the sermon emphasized on Sunday: give your best and finish well.

But that's not the end of her story, the great thing about Lo Lo Jones is her integrity and her gilded strength. As the LA Times writer, Philip Hersh notes, "she is the class of the field." She may have lost the golden medallion, but her inner gold did not get tarnished, but only shone more brightly. So, keep your eyes on the prize and win it--follow God and get the crown of righteousness in the future.