Carrying the Torch
WEST SIDE'S BUMP FOR THE MONTH
-March 2002
I am going to use a trick that some in my mother's history have used quite frequently. It
usually begins with the line "I don't usually like to talk about myself but…".
Now, Sara doesn't know that I am actually using that line or there would be an objection by her
at this time.
However, with the closing of the Olympics and the impressive victory in the grand finale of men's
hockey fresh in our minds my thoughts go to the Olympic flame.
Back when I was 17 years old and in grade thirteen I received in the mail a ballot for
participating in the Olympic torch relay. I filled it out quickly not expecting anything to come
of it as every mail box in the country got one. When I dropped it off at a Petro can station I
took 40 more. This time I thought my chances would be greater. Then one day I was over at my
neighbors and my mom ran over excitedly saying that I was selected to run the torch but because I
was under 18 my mom had to answer the skill testing math question and she wanted me there to
make sure she got it right (she would kill me for letting out that information!).
Wouldn't you know it but on day 57 of the torch run I would be the last runner of the famed
torch relay.
As I brought it home for the night hundreds of people would stand at the side of the road and
scream as I waved at each one of them. There were only two things on my mind that whole run:
make sure you can handle the weight of it & don't let the flame go out! I practiced every day
running 1 kilometre with my hands held as if I were carrying the torch.
Half-way through my run the most horrible thing happened:
I switched hands and the flame was gone! What do you do?
I suddenly became very afraid. Fortunately, the flame in the torch was not the real 'eternal
flame' but could be lit and re-lit by the real one inside the motor home. No harm no foul and
the torch made it to Calgary all right! (Could you imagine hearing on the radio that some stupid
kid in Sudbury let the flame go out and now we can't have an opening ceremony?)
Every Christian has been given a flame to carry. It is the flame of God's work in the world
to redeem mankind. The apostle Paul told Timothy to 'not neglect the gift that is in you' (1
Timothy 4:14). We must exercise, we must train and we must be on guard against the flame going
out.
Yes, our flame can be rekindled by going to the source of the eternal flame but the problem is
when a Christian's flame goes out there may be a lot of harm done before 'reignition' happens!
We must fan our flame!
The world depends on Christians to engage in the work God has given them to do. As long as the
world is separated from God, it is separated from love & mercy. How terrible it would be if the
reason they never saw the light of God was because too many Christians let their Christian lights
stop shining!--Drew Chapados
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