Marriage is like.... DOWNHILL SKIING!

Writing today in honor of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games! I love to watch these talented, young athletes pit themselves against the "elements" (even snow hauled in from 3,000 miles away). Downhill skiing may be my favorite. I have no idea how Lindsey Vonn or Julia Mancuso does it, pitting body against those slopes, charging forward without a single tentative move. Same thing with Bode Miller, pushing the limits to speed hopefully, confidently, down the slope toward victory.

As I marvel at their skill, it dawns on me that marriage is no different than downhill skiing! Well, maybe it's a little warmer. :)

In the starting gate, the skier waits for the signal. Look into their eyes. So intent. So focused.  The entire slope lays before them, full of possibility, promise, and dreams of gold. A couple joins in marriage, at the starting gate of new life together. Watch their eyes: intent, focused on each other. Their entire married life lays before them, filled with promise and dreams.

Soaring down the course, skiers face a variety of challenges that can throw them off course preventing them from finishing the race. Hitting a patch of unforgiving ice, one ski veers hard to the right while the other bounces off to the left. Neither ski going the same direction, the skier crashes head over heels bouncing down the frozen slope before finally coming to a rest, disqualified. Race over. The best skiers with experience, wisdom and strength of mind and body find a way to pull their feet back together and finish the race.

In the downhill, skiers must pass between appropriate flags to stay on course. Sliding wide of the course, skiers with strength and agility pull back in without missing a turn. Others are unable to recover and pass the flag on the wrong side, disqualified.

Course conditions change constantly. After a training run on hard packed snow, the sun might shine, changing the snow to slush by race time. Prepared skiers adjust the wax on their skis or their approach to the race. The unprepared skier hits the slush and slows down losing the race. Some might slip and crash, again disqualified.

Those skiers who prepared best, physically, mentally and emotionally make it to the bottom of the course. They cross the finish line celebrating their achievement with an arm pump in the air. The crowd cheers wildly.

Marriage, of course, offers similar challenges. The couple, once moving in unison through life, hits a rough patch: he heads one direction and she heads another. They grow apart. They veer off course, straying from healthy marital pursuits. Instead one puts another relationship, work, hobby, or self ahead of the marriage.

Family conditions constantly change adding stress: finances get tight when unexpected repairs are needed, kids enter the picture and date nights evaporate, fights ensue over the inlaws or holiday plans, and health problems creep in. Dedication to the marriage can be eclipsed, slowing the couple down. Sadly, the problems throw the couple so off course they call it quits, never making it to the finish line.

To finish strong, a couple must have the commitment and focus of an olympic gold medalist. Focused on Jesus, dedicated to finishing strong, willing to compromise and change to meet needs as they arise, a marriage can flourish. The couple finishes the race, hand in hand, victorious.

Dear God, I pray for marriages today in the words of Hebrews 12:1-2: "Surrounded then as we are by this rank of witnesses, let us strip off everything that hinders us, as well as the sin which dogs our feet, and let us run the race that we have to run with patience, our eyes fixed on Jesus - the source and goal of our faith." Help us finish strong, Lord. Amen.