1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)
In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves
to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,
because, “God opposes the proud but
shows favor to the humble.”
The rarest medal in the Olympics wasn't created from
gold, but a bolt. The story begins on a cold, winter afternoon in Innsbruck at
the 1964 Olympic two-man bobsled competition. A British team driven by Tony
Nash had just completed its first run, which had put them in second place. Then
they made a most disheartening discovery. They had broken a bolt on the rear
axle of their sled, which would put them out of the competition.
At the bottom of the hill, the great Italian bobsled
driver Eugenio Monti, who was in first place, heard of their plight. Without
hesitation, Monti removed the bolt from the rear axle of his own sled and sent
it to the top of the hill. The British team affixed it to their sled and then
completed their run down the mountain, winning the gold medal. Monti's Italian
team took the bronze.
When asked about his act of sportsmanship, Eugenio Monti
deflected any praise, saying, "Tony Nash did not win because I gave him a
bolt. Tony Nash won because he was the best driver."
The story of Monti's selfless act spread. And because of
it he was given the first De Coubertin Medal for sportsmanship. The award,
named after the founder of the modern Olympics, is one of the noblest honors
that can be bestowed upon an Olympic athlete; in other words, the most precious
hardware any Olympian can own.
Each of us has a choice - whether to be proud or humble.
Dear Lord, today we confess our sin of pride to You. Help us clothe ourselves in humility continually
looking out for those around us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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