Proverbs 3:5-6 (New International Version)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on
your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will
make your paths straight.
In one way, Reid Priddy hopes that the London Olympics
won't be a repeat of what happened in Beijing.
Four years ago, tragedy struck the men's volleyball squad
when Todd Bachman, the father-in-law of team coach Hugh McCutcheon, was stabbed
and killed at the Drum Tower in Beijing shortly after the Opening Ceremony.
In another sense, however, Priddy would take the same
result from the competition itself: the men's team won gold in 2008 and Priddy,
now the team's captain, thinks he and his teammates can do it again.
"Gold is certainly possible," Priddy said.
"I don't think the rest of the world thinks it's probable, and that's OK.
They didn't think that before."
London marks Priddy's third Olympics experience, and at
age 34, he knows he's in the latter years of his professional volleyball
career. But regardless of when the end comes, Priddy knows that the Lord has
guided his steps, deepened his faith and molded him along the way.
"I find that God has really used volleyball and the
ups and downs and the learning aspects to shape my character, and it's a great
arena for that," Priddy said. "It's a great arena to learn how to be
a team player, how to put a team's goal above any personal agenda, how to work
with other people."
The son of a minister, Priddy grew up in a Christian
home, but it wasn't until college and the years shortly thereafter when he grew
in his faith. While attending Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, a Jesuit
Catholic university, Priddy was part of a campus ministry and "was able to
see God do some cool things with a sort of ragtag group of believers," he
said.
Immediately after college he spent two years in Europe, a
time in which he said he developed a great fellowship with the Lord. Prior to
his first Olympics experience in 2004, Priddy had a revelation.
"Right before the Athens Olympics, I really felt God
giving me permission to be a fierce competitor," he said. "I love to
compete, and I love to try to win."
He said that freedom that he felt from God to play
fiercely and passionately set the stage for the rest of his career.
"I just try to be the best volleyball player I can
be, and the best teammate I can be," Priddy said. "I think that falls
in line with what I'm called to do."
Priddy thinks and hopes that London won't be his last
Olympics. He's confident he can compete at a high level for another four years
and perhaps make a return to the world's biggest athletic stage in Rio de
Janeiro in 2016. He admits that he's apprehensive about life after volleyball.
"My relationship with the Lord is so tied to my
journey as an athlete," Priddy said. "It almost scares me to think of
when that's not there, what is it going to look like?"
Regardless, Priddy knows that God is faithful and will
work in His life, whatever he may be doing and wherever he may end up.
"I'm extremely thankful and grateful for that,"
Priddy said, "that I've never been in this alone."
When things look down remember that God is always there
to guide us.
Dear Lord we pray that we would take the ups and downs of
life and let You teach us the lessons You have for us. We pray that we would
always do our best. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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