{"id":9832,"date":"2022-05-10T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/?p=9832"},"modified":"2022-04-21T12:17:34","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T11:17:34","slug":"sport-principle-40-sporting-metaphors-a-final-thought","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/friends-of-cvm\/sport-principle-40-sporting-metaphors-a-final-thought\/","title":{"rendered":"Sport Principle 40: sporting metaphors &#8211; a final thought"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">About the Sport Principle<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is my final thought in this series of sports principles. If you\u2019ve managed to read each of these blogs, stretching back well over a year, well done. Well done too if you\u2019ve managed to read any of them. I really appreciate any time and attention that you have invested in reading these ideas over recent weeks and months, and I hope that at least some of them have been helpful to you. Our time and attention are fossil fuels, they are the gas, oil and coal of our internal worlds. They are finite and limited and so I appreciate any of them at all being spent on any of my thoughts shared here. However, there is no limit to the countless connections between sport and our journey of faith that can be made. That\u2019s much more like renewable wind, solar or wave-generated energy, but I shall leave further connections and the related wisdom for life to others. With 40 being such a prominent biblical number, I feel that \u2018sport principle 40\u2019 is as good a place as any to stop. So here is a final thought for you as I wrap up this series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Application to Life<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of all the words and concepts we often associate with sporting success: perseverance; being in it for the long haul; hard training; sacrifice; resilience; mental toughness; courage; determination; skill; stamina; flexibility; hard graft; blood, sweat and tears; to name a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not difficult to see how these sporting concepts transfer across to life, and preparation for it. Which of the concepts listed above do you need more of in your life toolbox? Where exactly do you need them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We know that we have the crowd of all of heaven cheering us on, the greatest coach in the Universe in Jesus, who knows what it\u2019s like to compete and win in this game of human life. God the Father is the Umpire, referee, and judge all rolled into one, and we can have absolute confidence that He is absolutely just and fair in His decisions. Even our opponent (the Devil) is already beaten. The game is won, we just get to enjoy being involved as part of God\u2019s team. So may we ensure we enjoy it, and play this game of life to win!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you once again for your time and attention across this series of blogs. May I take this opportunity to wish you well for the future. Please know that I am praying for you as you keep striving to be obedient to Jesus. Please pray for me. It\u2019s only by His grace that any of us can stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cFor\u00a0physical\u00a0training\u00a0is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.\u201d<\/em> 1 Timothy 4:8<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Image credit: Louis Hansel via Unsplash<\/p>\n<div class=\"linkwithin_hook\" id=\"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/friends-of-cvm\/sport-principle-40-sporting-metaphors-a-final-thought\/\"><\/div><script>\n<!-- \/\/LinkWithinCodeStart\nvar linkwithin_site_id = 897245;\nvar linkwithin_div_class = \"linkwithin_hook\";\n\/\/LinkWithinCodeEnd -->\n<\/script>\n<script src=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/widget.js\"><\/script>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.linkwithin.com\/pixel.png?w=750\" alt=\"Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...\" style=\"border: 0\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About the Sport Principle This is my final thought in this series of sports principles. If you\u2019ve managed to read each of these blogs, stretching back well over a year, well done. Well done too if you\u2019ve managed to read any of them. I really appreciate any time and attention that you have invested in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<script>\n<!-- \/\/LinkWithinCodeStart\nvar linkwithin_site_id = 897245;\nvar linkwithin_div_class = \"linkwithin_hook\";\n\/\/LinkWithinCodeEnd -->\n<\/script>\n<script src=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/widget.js\"><\/script>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/\"><img src=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/pixel.png\" alt=\"Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...\" style=\"border: 0\" \/><\/a>","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":9833,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[74,583,697,377,1998],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/toolsBLOG.jpg?fit=610%2C291&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7PoLK-2yA","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9727,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/friends-of-cvm\/sport-principle-31-get-a-grip\/","url_meta":{"origin":9832,"position":0},"title":"Sport Principle 31: Get a grip","date":"25 January 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"About the Sport Principle Like weightlifters, high-level rock climbers stand or fall, (often quite literally) on the strength of their grips. Grip strength is of crucial importance here, and Sports Science tests often focus on climbers\u2019 forearms with the aim of discovering what makes good climbers uniquely effective with their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Friends of CVM&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/weightsBLOG.jpg?fit=610%2C291&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9239,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/friends-of-cvm\/sport-principle-2-the-95-5-principle\/","url_meta":{"origin":9832,"position":1},"title":"Sport Principle 2: The 95\/5 Principle","date":"23 February 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"About the Sport Principle The 80\/20 principle is well known: 80% of insurance claims are made by 20% of claimants; 80% of road traffic accidents are caused by 20% of drivers; 80% of wages are earned by 20% of workers; 80% of alcohol is drunk by 20% of drinkers, etc.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Friends of CVM&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/skyscraper.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9312,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/friends-of-cvm\/sport-principle-7-get-the-basics-right\/","url_meta":{"origin":9832,"position":2},"title":"Sport Principle 7: Get the basics right","date":"20 April 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"About the Sport Principle In most sports, there are tricks and short cuts for the learner that will fast-track the beginner and accelerate their early progress, to a point. Ways of bending and stretching the rules to the very edge of acceptability - the easy wins we might say. But\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Friends of CVM&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/veri-ivanova-p3Pj7jOYvnM-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9631,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/friends-of-cvm\/sport-principle-25-see-life-as-an-opponent-to-beat\/","url_meta":{"origin":9832,"position":3},"title":"Sport Principle 25: See life as an opponent to beat","date":"16 November 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"About the Sport Principle Combat is a popular metaphor for describing any kind of conflict in life, whether physical or not. So, we may\u00a0wrestle\u00a0with our consciences as we\u00a0get to grips\u00a0with a problem. We often don\u2019t realise we are borrowing grappling imagery as we try to gain the\u00a0upper hand, and get\u00a0on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Friends of CVM&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/boxing-BLOG.jpg?fit=610%2C291&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9749,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/friends-of-cvm\/sport-principle-32-the-art-of-breathing-correctly\/","url_meta":{"origin":9832,"position":4},"title":"Sport Principle 32: The art of breathing correctly","date":"1 February 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"About the Sport Principle In any sport, it is important to control your breathing, but there is a very judo-specific dimension to this concept, which moves it beyond most sports. Patrick Roux, former GB coach explains: \u2018As a young competitor, I heard this phrase from a renowned teacher who was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Friends of CVM&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/runnerBLOG.jpg?fit=610%2C291&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9374,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/friends-of-cvm\/sport-principle-10-the-half-time-team-talk\/","url_meta":{"origin":9832,"position":5},"title":"Sport Principle 10: The half-time team talk","date":"1 June 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"About the Sport Principle Everybody over a certain age (and Liverpool fans of all ages) remembers Liverpool\u2019s European Cup final \u2018miracle\u2019 in Istanbul in 2005. 3-0 down at half-time, nobody thought they could turn it around, but they did, winning the final and going down in history in the process.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Friends of CVM&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/half-time-BLOG.jpg?fit=610%2C291&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9832"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/106"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9832"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9832\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9834,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9832\/revisions\/9834"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}