Quote

"The most beautiful things are…memories and moments. If you don’t celebrate those, they can pass you by."

- Alek Wek

Real Life

Simone Biles is arguably the greatest gymnast of all time. Mastering skills that no other female gymnast had, having a longevity in her career that no one thought possible and amassing a phenomenal number of international medals and trophies.

After the last Olympics, Biles wrote an interesting comment to journalists: "You guys really gotta stop asking athletes what’s next after they win a medal at the Olympics. Let us soak up the moment we’ve worked our whole lives for."

It is common throughout sport for journalists to ask an athlete, “What’s next for you?” and in many ways that is the attitude of many watching sport, whether they are fans, critics, journalists or even coaches. What is the next thing? What is the next goal? What is the next big success they can achieve? Biles asks that athletes are allowed to enjoy their success without being asked to think of the next thing they should be striving for.

In our culture, being successful is often admired, as is being goal driven and always wanting to achieve more. It is that mindset that prompts questions like the one that frustrated Biles. Major achievements in sport are preceded by years of hard work. When a success is finally achieved, it makes sense that that athlete should be permitted to soak it up and enjoy it without being expected to already be thinking about the next goal.

The bible says there is a time for everything in life, including “a time to dance” i.e. to celebrate and enjoy. God’s desire is that we know joy in this life (John 10:10), and while success is not the only way to experience joy, when it comes our way, especially after a great deal of hard work and sacrifice, we should permit ourselves and others to absorb that moment and rejoice in it.

Bible Verse

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die… a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,4

Prayer

Lord thank You for the joy of goals achieved and victories won. Help me to celebrate these and embrace the joy of these moments, giving thanks to You that I get to experience them.

Author: Sarah Auld   |   Content Editor: Phil Pawley