Like many of you, I have been camped in front of the television for the past few days, watching the Summer Olympic Games from London. Every four years, I tell myself I'm not going to watch with such intensity, and then I get drawn in by the profiles of the athletes and their personal stories. Maybe you, too?

The motto of the Olympics (that name is trademarked, did you know that?) is Citius, Altius, Fortius; Swifter, Higher, Stronger. Makes sense, doesn't it, since nearly every competition compels athletes to excel in one of those adjectives. I'd like to add "more accurate" with the inclusion of archery as an Olympic event! Nonetheless, the goal of these amazing world class athletes is to be swifter, higher and stronger than all other competitors.

So, what's the goal of a Christian? If it's not to run faster, jump higher and lift more than our competition (whoever that is), what adjectives would be appropriate for me, and for you, in our lives of faith? I would offer these: aecus (kinder), prolixus (more generous), and amicus (more loving).

And compared to what or whom? Kinder than the cable guy? More generous than your mother-in-law? More loving than a Packer fan? No! But rather, kinder than you were yesterday, more generous than you used to be, more loving than last week. It's a journey. Our lives in Christ are not a competition, but rather a marathon that we all run together. The goal is not to win, it is to finish...together.