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Spirit of the Flame - 70 days following the Olympic Torch
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DAY 48

Today the Olympic Torch ended up in Ipswich. A town linked to the sea by the Orwell estuary. Built on the site of a large Roman villa, Ipswich became a settlement in the Anglo-Saxon times (7th-8th centuries).

From reading around, it seems Ipswich has a strong sporting heritage. I remember Ipswich Town doing rather well in football at the end of the 70's and early 80's. And I seem to remember going to see a speedway race, one of the teams being the Ipswich Witches. 

I was reminded of this just a few days ago while driving through the Midlands. The local BBC radio was commentating on the wet conditions of the speedway track, being used by local speedway team rivals Birmingham and Wolverhampton. After an early race one of the bikes had suffered problems probably because of the wet sand kicked up by one of the other bikes, effectively caking bike and rider with the slurry. 

As all the other three riders crossed the line in a close heat, the fourth rider was a long way back, aiming for the finish but moving slowly. By the description he must have looked like a slow moving sand castle!

Barely moving, the rider rocked the bike forward, finally ... crawling ... over ... the ... finish ... line. He made it. Not first place, but he made it.

And so too with our spiritual life. In our faith journey as we determine to the finish, we could encounter things that retard us, and slow us down. That is when our frequency of seeking God's presence really makes a difference. If we ignore God in the good times, how will we know the way into His presence in the bad times? And even seeking the presence of God does not preclude us from getting splattered with wet sand. It is through the bad times that we secure our relationship with God. This is when dependence is confirmed. 

David wrote about this in the popular Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (KJV)

God does not promise an easy life. We will still face dark valleys. What makes the difference is if we either ask God to accompany us on the journey, or blame Him for the darkness. I believe seeking the presence of God in the good times prepares us for the assurance that He is with us through the bad times. Even when we can't see or sense Him.

So when difficulties arise, press on. As Paul puts it (Philippians 3:14)
"I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus."

So when life seems like it's treated you like that speedway rider, you feel like you are metaphorically in dark valleys, covered in wet sand or other, press on to the end. God is with you, in the dark valleys and the wet sandy races.

-Pr Nathan Stickland

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