Andy's Blog: A Personal Word

August 19, 2008

Aug. 19, 2008

One of the great stories of this year’s Olympic games is that of Dara Torres, the 41 year old swimmer. After winning four medals in three Olympic games, she retired from competitive swimming in 1992 because she thought, at 25, she was too old. In 1999, she resumed training and left Sydney with three bronze and two gold medals. Now a mother and competing against athletes half her age, Torres has won more medals at this year’s Olympics. Torres said she was competing again at 41 for her daughter, “to show her when she is a little older that life has no boundaries if you commit yourself to your dreams.”

Just having passed one of the “milestone” birthdays myself, watching Torres win medals at an age when you are not supposed to has given me hope! Life doesn’t have to end when you are 40, or 50, or 60, or 70...if you remain alive, look toward the future, and keep hoping and dreaming. 

One of last year’s hit films was “The Bucket List” starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The two men have nothing in common except the fact both are terminally ill and share a hospital room. Together, they decide to escape from the hospital and head off on a road trip with a wish list of things they want to do before they die. It turns into a journey of friendship, discoveries and redemption.

At Trinity, we are focusing on the theme “Growing on Purpose.” Behind that theme is the belief that God works within us to complete us if we open ourselves to his grace. Growing in grace is the Methodist way of being Christian.  This growth doesn’t stop as long as we stay alive to the possibilities that God offers us. We have to make it our purpose to grow and God does the rest. 

So, dream a little, dare a little.

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