I’m enjoying watching the summer Olympics.  I didn’t actually see anyone walk on water, but I did see some pretty amazing things.  People that swam like dolphins, flew like a bird on the high bar, played beach volleyball in a downpour with enthusiasm and zest. 

The athletes are so good, it’s tempting to believe they are actually superhuman, somehow different from the rest of us.  You could start to imagine that sports are all about excellence.  I fell into this trap for years.  The level of the Olympic athletes seemed so far out of my reach that I didn’t even want to try to do a sport.  Why bother, if it’s all about excellence, and so many others are far more excellent than I?

The problem with that, is that I was giving up on myself.  I defined myself as a second-class citizen, a spectator, until I was blessed at the age of 44 to have my eyes opened to the joy of participating in a sport.  It’s worlds beyond merely watching images on a TV screen.  Training has become an important part of life, and I’d never go back to the old way. 

St. Peter saw something more amazing than any Olympic feat in today’s Gospel story.  He saw Jesus walking on water, and his response was, “Lord, if it’s really you, command me to come to you on the water!”  Peter was not content to be a spectator.  He longed to be part of it.

Peter didn’t look like a champion on his first attempt.  He took a few steps and sank, but he didn’t give up, and Jesus didn’t exclude him or put him down.  Jesus helped Peter and showed him the way.  Maybe the real miracle in this story is Jesus’ willingness to share his special gift with another. 

Similarly I think that sports participation – if it’s the real thing and not a scam – belongs to everyone, of every age, at every level.  Today as I watch the Games, I’m thinking of all the amateur athletes out there, not just a select few.  People who modestly say they “just” play soccer or tennis with their buddies, do Aquarobics at the senior center, coach school wrestling or Little League, or bicycle around town.  This is where the real action is.