A GREAT STORY OF FORGIVENESS

While on duty in the athlete village this week I popped in on an old friend, Greg, who once coached the Canadian Nat’l Nordic Combined team. Greg now coaches with the surprisingly strong USA Combined team. He told me a story of forgiveness on his team that in some ways gives a clue to their success.

During last year’s World Nordic Champs in Liberec, Czech the Americans were the favorites to win the team relay in this forever European dominated sport. But when they got to the start Billy Demong could not find his race number bib anywhere. He frantically searched and searched. It may seem like a small thing, but the race orgainizers wouldn’t let him jump, hence the whole team was disqualified.

In the end he found it down his pants leg. It had slipped down and he never thought to look for it there. It’s one of those things that at the time seems so cruel and unfair (one of the athletes on that team would never have another chance medaling at a major event), yet after enough time you can laugh at its absurdity.

Though only one year has passed and the Olympic team relay for Nordic Combined is today the guys are able to laugh about it. What I find impressive was the team’s attitude. They made a conscious decision to forgive Billy and move on. There have been no hard feelings and the boys have decided to just look ahead. Once again they are the favorites and let’s hope they don’t disappoint.

Another great story of forgivness deals with a mutual friend of Greg and I with one of his former co-coaches. Jen-Dro Meyer was tragically killed in a car accident several years ago now. Jen-Dro had been seeking for God and making some moves to believe in Jesus. I found out at the memorial service that just 1 month before his death he indeed had decided to trust in Christ to forgive his sins and give his life to Him. It was an incredible relief to me, because I knew he was moving close, but I wasn’t sure.

Forgiveness is beautiful thing and the basis for all quality relationships....especially the most important relationship of all..that with our Heavenly Father. One that goes on for all eternity.