Cheering for Champions

Michael Phelps is a champion swimmer. Even if you don't follow the Olympics you probably know that he is the most decorated Olympian of all time. He has won more medals than any other Olympian; ever. At his present pace he will win 8 gold medals in thiese Olympics alone, surpassing Mark Spitz' 7 gold medals in 1972. Pretty cool. I like champions. I like to cheer for champions. I've never really followed swimming before. But I do like champions.

As Michael Phelps continues to win I suspect more and more poeple will begin following his Olympic reign. We all like winners. Even if we are not big swimming fans we do like champions -- of all kinds.

But what if it wasn't Michael Phelps and it wasn't swimming. What if it was people in your every day life? How excited do you get when your children walk through the room and how much do you cheer? How excited do you get when your spouse cleans the house or makes the dinner or fixes something that is broken, and how much do you cheer? Do you cheer and high five when the waitress smiles at you, or the checker at the grocery store asks about your day? What about your child's football coach, or your child's teacher, or the pastor at your church? What if these others in your life are average at best but every single day devout themselves and their passions to someone you love?

I love it when people swim real fast, and hit a golf ball real straight, and can hit a slap shot really hard. I love it when people are really smart, and can make lots of money, and can do really cool things. But what about the people I see everyday? What about the people who daily invest in me, and my children, and the people I love? Are they champions, too?

I love watching Michael Phelps win. But do you know what I love even more? I love watching Micheal Phelps cheer for others. Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympic champion of all time. Yet Michael Phelps cheers for other people, too. He cheers for people not as good as he is; he cheers for people not as accomplished as he is. Michael Phelps is a champion in my book. Because Michael Phelps cheers for others.

Here's a mountain man challenge: For every medal that Michael Phelps wins, I want you to cheer for 10 other people. Pick them at random. Pick them for their humility; for their every day heroics; for the unrecognized but kind things they do -- for smiling; for listening; for loving; for spending time. Cheer for

• your Sunday School Teacher
• the people who play the organ or piano or guitar at your church
• the busboy at a restaurant
• your children's teachers and coaches
• the second and third string quarterback, or lineman, or something on your child's football team
• the shy girl who plays the flute in the band
• your neighbor -- especially if you have never even said hello
• cheerleaders
• those who are not cheerleaders
• somone
• anyone

I love you very much. Today I am cheering for you. You are a champion to me!

Jeff on the Mountains!