Olympic certainty

Nb. For our international readers; please see this report about the ticketing for the London 2012 Olympics and the mild debacle that it became.

Did you get any Olympic tickets? Did you even try? As a sports fan, I was so excited when London was awarded the Olympics. I’d never thought I could go to the Olympics – and now I could. Wonderful! I jumped through all the hoops – applied for a wide range of sports to increase my options – and waited with anticipation. There was a false dawn when some money was taken from my account that would have been the exact amount for several tickets. Yes, I thought, I’ve definitely got something. But it turned out to be my council tax. More waiting… and waiting… until, eventually, the email that started “We are sorry…”. I was gutted.

A few weeks later, the whole saga started again. This time I set my alarm for 5.45am, so that I could sign in and apply on the dot of 6.00. My application was finished at 6.03am – yes! … No … “We are having processing difficulties…” Round and round the circuit I went – apply / deny / apply / deny – ugh! Eventually the application was accepted – but that didn’t mean tickets, just that they’d received my request. “You’ll hear for certain in 12-24 hours” – oh, no I didn’t. Aagh! Then eventually, when I’d given up hope, another email: “We’re delighted to tell you…”. Phew! I’ve got one. Just one solitary ticket, (and even that was dependent on them successfully taking the payment from my account), but I now know how lucky I am to be going at all.

The whole process was exhausting, frustrating and an emotional roller-coaster. But it also got me thinking. The worst thing about the Olympics process was the not knowing. The uncertainty, coupled with the disappointment of hopes dashed, was crushing. And in the end I had to tell myself I was delighted with something that’s far less than I originally hoped for. In contrast – how wonderful the gospel message is. We’re not left hanging around waiting. The outcome is based on the finished work of Christ, not the vagaries of a lottery. And the glittering prize won’t lose it’s glow as we get closer to it – instead it will prove to be far more wonderful than we can ever imagine. I’m still quite excited about my single Olympic ticket – but I’m thrilled to the bottom of my soul by the prize I have through Christ my Lord.