Greetings,

It has been wonderful in the last week to have a shift in focus towards the sporting prowess of nations as we have been watching the Olympic Games.  Whether it was enjoying the opening ceremony, hearing the stories of athletes  who have given us so much to compete and their families who have supported them along the way, or the exhilaration of those achieving personal best times or medals, the games have given us a real lift.

Tokyo 2020 has also been the first time that we have seen the updated Olympic Motto … “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.”  The Olympic motto has not been changed by the IOC since the inception of the modern Olympics back in 1894, but the committee felt that this year was the time to make a change.

It was considered to be important to reflect what had been significant for the world over the last 18 months, and the fact that it is the solidarity of the global community which has held us in good stead.  To quote the committee “we move forward when we move together.”

When we move together we can make so many positive changes for others, changes that would be harder to make if we are acting on our own.  (See Something to make you smile for a reminder of one of the ways change can happen when we work together.)

In all races we are moving toward the finish line.  Like the Olympic athletes, we have those who support and encourage us along the way.  May we, as athletes of life, continue to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us” (Romans 12:1), and may we be encouraged to know that we do not run the race alone.

Blessings – Heather.