Service at All Saints Church 11th August - 11am
Apparently the top most demanding Olympic sports are Water Polo, Rowing and the Decathlon. This is because of the sustained physical exertion required alongside skill and speed. In other words the most demanding sports are the ‘Endurance’ sports. According to the dictionary, ‘endurance’ means the ‘ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions’.
Skill and speed can both be improved through training over many years; a good coach also helps as does a healthy diet and looking after your body in the in-between times. But endurance is more tricky. There’s something about endurance that suggests a certain strength in your mindset that is not just stamina or physical strength.
Mental toughness is about consistency and forming good habits. Psychologists suggest one of the top ways of achieving this is by having strong, supportive relationships with others and surrounding yourself with people who encourage and uplift you.
It’s no surprise then that the Bible has been recommending this for thousands of years! It has a lot to say on the need for endurance in the Christian life - especially in the challenging times in which we live - and that is why we are encouraged to join a Church family. God knows we need supportive relationships, we need people to build us up when we feel weak; our Church family upholds us when the chips are down.
With the encouragement of good people around us, we can endure, despite fatigue, stress or other adverse conditions and we will make it across the finish line!