Message of Fr. Vazken Movsesian, parish priest of St. Andrew Armenian Church, Cupertino, from the Nakhagoch Newsletter. Electronic version archived on: SAIN-- St. Andrew Information Network -------------------------------------- c. 1988 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org -------------------------------------- Thoughts along the way Competing for the Gold For the past two weeks, we watched with interest the Olympic Games from Korea. Athletes came from throughout the world competing for gold and silver. Years of training and disciple finally pay off. In a few minutes, sometimes moments, their years of hard work is judged. If they succeed, they are re-membered for a few days, perhaps weeks or months, and if lucky, years. If they fail, they are already forgotten. (Of course this excludes those who the media decides will be the examples of failure, e.g. Ben Johnson.) At the Olympics there is a healthy atmosphere of competition. Competition is also a part of everyday life. Gold and silver are what we compete for, whether on a athletic field or in our offices. Take my instruction instead of silver and knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than jewels and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. --Proverbs 8:10 There is one thing that we may be sure of, we never have to compete for God's Love. It is among the last of the old fashion free things in life. Unlike an Olympic Record, it never gets old and no one can take it away from us against our will. However, there is a more important question to be asked: Does God have to compete for our love? Unfortunately, we have to answer yes. God is in a competition for the gold -- our hearts. He is running a race. We know some of the other athletes. They are fear, hatred, materialism, self-glory, self-pity, apathy as well as other finely trained athletes. We are at the finish line. Each would have us. It is not a question of God not being fast enough to win, rather the other competitors set obstacles along the way. God is running the hurdles while the other forces run freely, and shorter distances. We are even bribed by the other competitors by all the false senses of security they offer. And we root for them. The Olympic games give us an opportunity to view competition at it's best. They give us a chance to see discipline. They also can remind us of a different type of competition. God loves us so much that he wants to win our hearts. It is a two way track. When God wins, we are the real recipients of the Gold and Silver Medals. We only have to cheer him on. Then the obstacles are removed and we have not only competed for the gold, but we have won it. --Fr. Vazken -------------------------------------- c. 1988 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org --------------------------------------