Just like many Canadians I spent much of the weekend in front of the television. Starting Friday night with the Opening Ceremony it was all Olympics all the time. I thought the opening ceremonies were spectacular and captured much that is special about our Canadian culture. The selection of the six flag bearers was brilliant; six Canadian icons known for their pursuit of the arts, athletics and science.

I have watched the various events and followed some of the media chat with various folks. I must admit the most moving moment for me so far was last night when Alexandre Bilodeau was presented with his gold medal. He is so humble and in every interview he has been generous in his recognition of others.  He is a true Olympian in every sense of the word.

I have been trying to figure out why the Olympics are so compelling. Certainly part of it is the media hype. There is also the exhilaration of success and the despair of defeat as we live vicariously through our athletes. I always feel sorry for the athletes who don’t perform as predicted. I can only imagination the sense of failure some must feel.  Alpine skier, Robbie Dixon of Whistler said, “I feel like I have let the whole country down.” Now that has got to hurt.

On Friday night I hung a Canadian flag in our front hall. It greets us every time we come in the front door. No matter how cynical one might be about the Olympics there is no denying that they do stir patriotism. Sunday morning, partly due to the Olympics and partly due to it being Scouting Sunday, we began the service by singing the National anthem. As “O Canada” rang through the sanctuary I had to swallow that lump in my throat and blink back the tear in my eye. How about you? Have the Olympics stirred up your patriotic spirit? Do you think the positive aspects of the Olympics are enough to counteract the negative side to the games?