A YOUNG boy in a Kenyan refugee camp who had never heard of the Olympic Games was persuaded by friends to run five miles to watch a television broadcast of the great American athlete Michael Johnson perform in the 2000 Olympics. He came away inspired, wondering if he could ever do the same.
Last week Lopez Lomong was in Beijing, an elite athlete and chosen flag-bearer for the United States team at the opening ceremony. His journey from tragedy to success is remarkable.
At the age of six he was snatched from a Sudanese Church by a rebel militia who intended to use him as a child soldier. After some time he escaped with three other boys to Kenya and spent 10 years in a refugee camp surviving on one meal a day.
In 2001 he was one of 3,500 Sudanese children given the chance of a new life in the United States - which brought him to where he is today.
There has been a good deal of controversy surrounding these games, mainly to do with Tibet and human rights issues within China itself. But it is good to see this great nation opening out to the world and sharing something of its rich culture. Waiting for a perfect world is unrealistic; working for a better world, which is the Christian way, makes sense.
Sport has a very important part to play in most people's lives today. Indeed, understandable concerns have been expressed at the extent to which Sunday sports compete with religious practice, especially for the young. What may surprise some people is that sports were an important part of life in biblical times and had a significant influence on the language and thought of the New Testament.
The origins of the Olympics are uncertain, but it is said that the first games were held in 776 BC and continued into the fourth century AD. They were a central aspect of Greek culture, with sports arenas in large centres of population. Tarsus, for example, the birthplace of St Paul, had a large Greek population devoted to sports.
This is reflected in Paul's letters, where he uses sporting terms to illustrate characteristics of the Christian life, knowing that his readers will understand. There are many references to running and competing, while specific games such as boxing and wrestling are mentioned.
Reflecting on his own spiritual journey he speaks of pressing on "towards the goal", using the Greek word for the pillar placed at the end of each stadium which athletes strenuously strove to reach. In major games, heralds announced competitors by name and country. St Paul borrows this idea to explain his missionary role, describing himself as "a herald to others".
He also refers to successful athletes being rewarded by a wreath made of wild olive and laurel. Writing to the church at Corinth, he contrasts this "perishable wreath" with the imperishable reward of the Christian life.
Christians believe the body is to be honoured but not to the exclusion of mind and spirit. While St Paul admires the dedication and zeal of athletes, he reminds us that there are greater prizes in life.
Lopez Lomong recognizes that his sporting achievements are not the end purpose of his life. He believes God has a plan for his life which brings responsibilities. He says:
"When we were in Africa, we didn't know what was there for us as kids - we just ran. But God was planning all of this stuff for me and I didn't know. Now I'm using running to get the word out about how horrible things were back in Sudan during the war. . Right now, similar terrible things are going on in Darfur; people are running out of Darfur, and I put myself in their shoes."
As a Greek proverb puts it, "Goodness is not tied to greatness, but greatness to goodness."
GL