Focus, Determination, & Perseverance

  
This past week gave several incredible examples of focus, determination, and perseverance from the sporting world, particularly from tennis and soccer.

At Wimbledon, the longest-ever tennis match was concluded when John Isner defeated Nicolas Mahut on the third day of their resumed match.  The fifth set's final score was 70 to 68 (resembling more a basketball score than a tennis match), and the entire match took place for over 11 hours.

At the World Cup, the Americans managed to secure in dramatic fashion their advancement from the Group Stage against the Algerians, scoring in the 91st minute.  For the second straight game, the Americans were disallowed goals due to controversial decisions from game referrees, yet they overcame such disheartening injustice (as well as the constant droning of the vuvuzelas) to ensure victory.

It's moments like these that make sporting events so fascinating in my opinion.  Seeing athletes who are able to overcome adversity, maintain focus, exhibit extreme determination, and persevere against long odds makes for great and inspiring drama.  Athletes who fight extreme fatigue, who continue battling when the cause seems futile, who pursue victory despite the noise of growing doubts and questions, bring to mind our calling to run the race of life with such purpose and perseverance.

"But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." -- Phillipians 3:13-14