And the Gold Medal Goes to…

So, I’ve been watching the Summer Olympics for three straight weeks.
And while the athletes were amazing, I think a few more gold medals are in order.

Let’s start with the soccer referee.
This person runs more than anyone on the field, probably covers more ground than I do in a year, and yet, not a single cheer.

Or the towel collector, the unsung custodian of post-swim chaos.
Gathering up all the soggy towels from every swimmer and making sure they are swapped out for fresh ones, race after race.

And finally, the Olympic ninjas, the camera operators.
Silent, unseen, and somehow always in the perfect spot.
Capturing every triumphant moment, making you feel as if you are sitting in the front row for every event.

These are the people who made the Olympics possible.
Without ever stepping into the spotlight.
No bouquets of flowers, no national anthems played in their honor.
They did their jobs because they knew it mattered, even if the world didn’t notice.

Now, maybe you’re feeling a bit like one of these unsung heroes.
Or more like one of the 45,000 volunteers at the Olympics.
Working tirelessly behind the scenes without a single bit of recognition.

You’re at a job that feels like it’s miles away from your true calling,
It is hard not to wonder if what you’re doing even matters.
It becomes far too easy to feel like you’re just going through the motions, day after day, with no one noticing.

But here’s the thing: it ALL matters.
Every bit of effort, every little task that feels pointless, none of it is wasted.
Even if no one else sees it, God does.
And, if God’s watching, well, that’s a pretty good audience.

We tend to chase the big moments, the gold medals, the recogniti.
Because we believe that is what will propel us further, faster.
But life is built on the small, consistent steps.
The ones nobody sees, the ones that feel insignificant in the moment.

We tell ourselves that we’ll give our very best effort when we’re finally in the spotlight.
But how we do the small things is how we’ll do anything.

So let’s do those unnoticed and uncelebrated small things with ALL our hearts.
As if they’re the most important tasks in the world.
Because in God’s eyes, they are.
And the reward for doing that is worth far more than gold.