Obiena prostrates self in Italy victory

Batas Mauricio .

THE country, in general, and the sports community, in particular, is in a celebration mode nowadays on account of the victory clinched in Italy by Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena last Tuesday which gave him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in the Tokyo, Japan Olympics in 2020.

With his success in Italy, Obiena managed to clinch as well great honor and recognition for the Philippines because that catapulted the Philippines among the countries which will try to outshine one another in next year’s Tokyo Olympics. As of the moment, Obiena is the only Filipino athlete who has been allowed to participate in the Tokyo Olympics, representing our country.

But over and above the honor that our country received on account of Obiena’s Italy victory, I can also see one other benefit that he has heaped upon the Philippines,  which was made possible by his feat, right after winning in the Italy pole vault competition. Now, did you see what he did? Right after making sure he won, Obiena immediately prostrated himself, face down, in a clear display of gratitude to God.

Obiena’s display of gratitude by prostrating himself, face down, in a clear display of gratitude to God right after becoming victorious in the Italy pole vault competition departed quite convulsively from what other winning Filipino athletes had been doing in the past.

Indeed, many Filipino athletes, after winning or even just after scoring a point in the course of a competition, would be readily raising their hands and fists clenched in victory, shouting at the top of their voices, and act as if it was their strength and personal power, intellect, and will, that caused their victory. Pardon me for saying this, but what they have portraying is vain conceit, claiming sole credit for their success.

Clearly, many Filipino athletes have been won’t to forget that their winning — or losing — are actually blessings or curses that only God, whose Name is Jesus and who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, has the power to give. If we think seriously about it, no athlete has the power, by himself alone, to win or to lose.

I am sure  people will smirk with my view that only our God and Savior whose Name is Jesus can decide whether an athlete shall win or lose in any given sports contest. Many will say that “it is from God’s mercy alone that things can happen, but man has to do something, too.” I am sorry but if we try to devote a little more thought about the life of humans here on earth, there is really nothing they can do to make their lives better.

Man can train extra-ordinarily well, study outstandingly great, or accept tutoring from well-known athletic greats or experts. If the truth be told, however, in the end, it is only God who has the power to decide whether the training, study, or tutorials, will yield victory, or defeat.

Because God is powerful, He can decree a stronger enemy or foe, or a more intelligent adversary, or cause weakness to strike against any person who is to face any contest, competition, or any challenge in life. It would do well for every athlete (and even for all men) then to regularly and constantly align their thoughts, words, actions, and even their appearances, with God’s wisdom and commands, asking Him for His blessings, guidance, and protection at all times!

E-mail: batasmauricio@yahoo.com, mmauriciojr111@gmail.com