From my journal: It is tempting to write or preach about a number of events in these most-recent Olympic games that reflect on poor character. A certain skier, a snow-boarder, and a couple of skate-racers all provide ample evidence that winning requires more than physical ability. Winning on a world-class level is also a matter of the heart and discipline and focus. Those who think Christianly understand this.

As I prepared to pounce on some of those momentary lapses of athletic poise (not unlike some of my own lapses, of course), someone commented to me on the performance of the Swiss woman who had been in the number-two position in the snowboard race for the gold medal. I recalled that she was at least 50 meters back when the American athlete decided to "hot-dog" it (play to the crowd, as they say) and fell. The replay shows the Swiss snowboarder flying by to the finish line (and the gold) as the American frantically tries to get back on track.

Go back five seconds before the fall when ...