Showboating and Snowboarding

Showboating and Snowboarding

”First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.” Proverbs 16:18

Well, sports fans…the Ice Age has begun!  While some are anticipating the triple-digit temperatures (110-118 F- degrees) of Soccer’s World Cup this Summer, others are going to watch the good ol’ thermostats drop to single-digit for the Winter Olympics this weekend.  Talk about “Extreme Games.” With last night’s 2014 Winter Olympic’s Opening Ceremonies, it seems best to watch them on television with a hot chocolate and marshmallows as you take in the Winter Wonderland of Sochi.  As you do, the broadcasts will cause complete sports strangers become best friends and familiar household names. 

Remember a few years ago when we watched slalom skier “Picabo” (Pee-Ka-Boo) Street.  While some claimed she had a hospital wing named after her during a stint in the Intensive Care Unit, there was no merit to speculation about a place called “Picabo…I.C.U.”   Now, of course, a newcomer on the scene, Ted Ligety, will see how fast his split times (the split time is the time taken to complete an initial distance in a longer event) which makes it the first time in Olympic history a racer will come by “Ligety Split.”  Many years of discipline, training, and perseverance have brought them to this stage of life.  But beware of the dangers that lurk.  Complete focus is the only sure-fire antidote to the most savvy veteran.

One of the more memorable moments of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games came in the Gold Medal race of a brand new event called “Snowboard Cross.” It’s like a motocross event with multiple racers going at one time over a treacherous course filled with obstacles – only the racers are on snowboards. In the Gold Medal race, American Lindsey Jacobellis started out with 3 other racers. By the midpoint of the race, Jacobellis was alone, far in front, having escaped a crash that took out 2 of the 4 racers and delayed a third. As she had the finish line in sight, she reached the second to last jump. She was so far in front you couldn’t even see the 2nd place racer. So, she did something she’ll regret for a long time. She decided to do a little showboating, and grabbed her board in mid air and did a little squiggle in midair. Unfortunately, this little act of showmanship caused her to lose her balance. She crashed on her landing, and as she was struggling to get back up, Switzerland’s Tanja Frieden raced past her to claim to the Gold Medal. Jacobellis later gave this simple explanation for her behavior saying, "I was caught up in the moment." That is the problem, isn’t it? When we get caught up in the moment and quit focusing on the task ahead.

Lindsey Jacobellis had one temporary lapse that led to a giant “collapse.” For just a moment, the enticement of a “showboating move” caused her a missed Gold Medal. The crash would be a lifetime lesson for her and for all who would watch, that you can never let overconfidence rule your life…or you too can crash in the final moment.

Proverbs 16:18 famously states, “Pride comes before the fall.” We must be on our guard not to capitulate to self-confidence, but lean on humility.  In the race of life, there are moments where we can let down our guard. Temptations, pride, attitudes, and diverting paths can all lead to a fall.  Whether short-term Christian or long-timer, we all can fall prey to the “pride monster.”  Concentrate on keeping your focus throughout your “game” and take a humble approach even when the deal is sealed. Failure can happen at the most inopportune time…it can happen in a “Lickety-Split.”

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   Can you recall a time that you fell to temptation because you let your guard down?

2)   Ask the Lord to point out where you are most susceptible to pride (marriage, parenting, work, etc.) and request His strength to be ready when it comes?

Consider reading the Word today:

Copyright 2015 - Terry Risser