My son, Chris, wrote this today on his Facebook status, ‘So, over the summer I’ve wanted to: win the tour de France like Brad, be a runner like Mo, be a Heptathelete like Jess, be a cyclist like Chris, a tennis player after Murray’s wins and now I want to be a golfer…. 2012… What a summer of sport!

All of the above people didn’t wake up the week before their events and take up their given sport…. they have worked very hard for years and Chris’ words got me thinking……I wonder how many other people have thought the same thing? How many joined a gym, took up cycling, tennis, golf, running? The list could go on. The next question is: how many are still doing it!? It’s the ‘January Gym Syndrome’  The gyms across the world are packed in January but empty by February. By and large, we’re not very good at seeing things through! Before you zone out because you’re not sporty, this isn’t just about sport, it’s about life in general. ‘I’m starting my diet on Monday’ finished by Wednesday! ‘I’m definitely going to start spending more time praying’ ‘I’m going to go to the prayer meeting’ ‘I’m going to be more supportive to my husband/wife’ ‘I’m going to stop smoking’ So many things we start, but don’t see through. Why?  ‘The power of the process is in the depth of the decision’ (author unknown) If you don’t make a deep enough decision to see a thing through, then the likelihood is, you won’t. There are too many distractions to knock us off course! It’s not enough to just go out and buy all the latest gear for your latest fad, you have to determine to finish the course!

I know what I’m talking about. In 2005, I began a theology degree that would take be 6 years to complete because I was doing it part time, open learning. That meant I wouldn’t finish until 2011! That sounds OK because we’re in 2012 now but to put it into perspective, if I was to start now, I wouldn’t finish until 2018!! Now, that seems ages away! But I was determined to do it! And I did it – I can now but BA (Hons) Applied Theology after my name! Not that I do but I can!

What is that thing that you would love to do but haven’t done yet? Maybe you’re still working towards it, maybe you’ve put it on a shelf. If you have, pick it up and start again! Remember, nothing is impossible for those who believe…. What’s your mountain and how big is your ‘want to’ Another great verse we can take encouragement from is ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!’ We have to be sensible of course and add that as long as God created me to do that – don’t jump off a building thinking this verse means you can fly! It will end badly! Or, if you’re in your 40’s and want to play for Man Utd or be a professional ballet dancer and you haven’t ever played football or ballet – Sorry to burst your bubble!! You understand what it means – ‘I can do all things……’ But if it is something that you know is within your grasp, then do it!! Don’t let anything put you off anymore! If we want to shine, then let it be in extraordinary ways as well as the ordinary ones! Write that book, learn that instrument, climb that mountain, lose that weight, start that business!!

Let this British summer (events not weather!!) be an inspiration to you! Let me know the decisions you make after today! Live your dreams!