I’ve been thrilled to watch the Olympic Games as well as the Paralympics. My favourite events were the track races, probably because my father in his time, was a track racer at a much lower level and as a small child I had the privilege of being near him when he was an official for 1948 Olympic Games in London. I listened with awe of the account when, with my mother, they were both at the Games in Berlin in 1936. I had hoped to go to the Games when they were again in London in 2012 but was unable to go.
In the track events every runner has to keep in his or her own lane at the right times. As with the swimming races, to stray into another lane causes chaos and disqualification. Every lane is clearly marked.
In our own lives we also need to stay in our own ‘lanes’ and live the life God has planned for us and not hanker after another. I’ve always wanted to be able to sing and maybe perform but that is not a gift I’ve been granted. I console myself with the fact that I will be able to sing in heaven. Even my flute, piano and clarinet playing were of poor standard. Another talent I wished I had possessed was to be sporty. Like my father I would have enjoyed being athletic but it never happened.
God has given me other gifts, the gift of writing and being able to make friends easily. I need to keep to my own lane, that is where God will be able to use me best.