What Defines Me (You)?

A few weeks ago my daughter and I were sitting in the salon waiting for our appointment to commence, surrounded by Cosmo magazines and beauty posters. One of the posters read "_____ (product name) defines me, what defines you?" My eyebrows just about popped off my head when I read that and then furrowed in disbelief.

Watching the Olympics I have been startled again and again to see various people who are not happy with their second place finishes, or their whatever place finishes and are completely dejected and distraught because for them, it's all about being *the* best. I have also seen people with eighth place finishes who are delighted because they beat their own best time, and that is what it's all about for them, being *their* best.

If I had to choose, I would choose the second state of mind over the first, but even there, I have been pondering how much many (most?) of these athletes are defined by how they perform in their sport. Have I peaked? Am I still on the rise? Am I world class? I couldn't help but think of the following passage;

"You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. So run to win! All those who compete in the games use self control so they can win a crown. That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time, but our crown will never be destroyed. So I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something, not just the air. I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that I myself will not be disqualified after I have preached to others." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

What defines me? I can tell you what doesn't define me.

• the vehicle I drive
• the neighbourhood I live in
• the size, decor of my home
• the brand name of clothes I wear
• the amount I exercise or don't
• the number on the scale
• the figure in my bank account
• the momentary cleanliness or chaos of my home
• whether I serve my guests a 5 course meal on china, or hamburgers on paper plates

to name just a few.

What I hope defines me?

• I love God
• I love people
• I desire to serve not be served (desire being the operative word, I fail miserably at this at times)
• I desire more of Him, more than anything
• I bring honor to God and my husband
• I devote myself to raising children who are passionate about holiness and heaven.
• more than all of this (and because of this, it should be my motivation), I am a sinner saved by grace

When I look at other people's blogs I am first and foremost drawn their sidebar profile. I'm passionate about.... I'm an avid.... I love.... I strive to..... I desire...... I appreciate these glimpses into other women's heads and hearts. What defines you? What crown(s) are you chasing after? Only one crown lasts forever. Let's keep our eyes on the goal (holiness) and discipline ourselves with Olympic effort to fight the good fight in the spiritual boxing ring of life. There is no place for apathy and mediocrity in the life of an Olympic believer. Are we too weighed down by worldliness to be able to lift our head and see the prize? We are promised more than Herculean strength to be victorious in all situations. We are offered the power of the cross, the power of the spirit, the power of the heavenlies, to become Olympians of faith and holiness. Let's buckle down and keep our focus, on Him, on His truth, on His will for our lives. What a task is ours, and what a crown awaits us. Let's not allow ourselves to be defined by anything but the highest calling.

"We have around us many people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne. Think about Jesus' example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying." Hebrews 12:1-3