Prayer for our Olympians

By Richard Ho Lung

HEAVENLY FATHER, we pray that our island will be blessed at the London Olympics 2012. You have blessed us with a most marvellous group of talented athletes this year. Young, strong of will and desire, and bright with the beautiful sunshine energy of our extraordinary island. May they glorify You and our country with victories, and lasting memories of what You have given Your children in this gift of life.

Make them strong, fit, humble and full of thanksgiving for what You have done through them. Bless and inspire them in a special way in these Olympic days. Let them feel Your presence and Your inspiration in their hearts and minds, their hands and feet, indeed, their whole bodies, their whole being. Let them know You and fly with You on eagles' wings. You have made them to represent You, our island, and our whole world. As You have said:

"What are humans that You are

mindful of them, mere mortal that You care

for them?

Yet You have made them little less that a god,

Crowned them with glory and honour."

- Psalms 8:4-6

Oh Lord, our God, how awesome is Your name throughout the earth and, in a special way, our little Jewel Island Jamaica, and its people.

Watch over us, Lord, lest we fall into pride or weakness. Guard us in a special way against all harm, physical or spiritual. We belong to You. We are Your people and You are our God.

Fill our athletes with wonder at Your handiwork, and the chance to make the strength and beauty of human life and talent known throughout the world. You know that all rests in Your hands. It is true: we must work as though everything depends on us, and pray as though everything depends on You. Into Your hands we commend our young athletes, Lord, and our life and our hopes. Grant them all the medals they have worked for, but not according to our will but according to Your will, Lord.

Remind our athletes, Lord, "To be humble in defeat, and gracious in victory."

This island, so precious in Your making, and so precious in Your eyes, represents the mystery and Your tremendous love for Jamaica. May our athletes represent the very same, the human spirit and body.

Watch over our island, so broken yet so beautiful even in its imperfections. Bring us to the fullness of maturity as You continue to mould us as a people of God. You alone can do this; stir us, drive us, correct us and direct us according to your will. You know what You want us to be as a nation. You have a purpose and intention. Show us the way and hold us by our hands that we may all fulfil what is Your purpose.

Though our world seems to be losing its way, it is Your world, Lord. As we come together at the time of the Olympics, we are one world, one people. Let Your light shine upon us, direct us, renew us, and reveal to us Your awesome and mysterious presence, so that we may be truly Your people, honouring and dignifying and glorifying each man and all nations as a special creation under Your mighty hand.

Still, I can't help it but I pray that our island will prove to be the best. But not my will, but Your will be done.

Father Richard Ho Lung is founder and superior general of Missionaries of the Poor. Send comments to columns@gleanerjm.com