London2012 Opening Ceremony: The power and the might

There were the scoffers, the doubters, the haters, and the wish-it-were-us-ers. There was the expectation, the hope, the promise, and the collective big breath. There were roles for Boris, Beckham, Cameron, and a cumbersome cameo for a chap called Romney.

London 2012 Opening Ceremony fireworks

credit london2012.com

And then, on Friday 27th July at 9pm, the questions were answered and the negative comments rebutted. London 2012 opened to the world with great panache and splendour.

Danny Boyle and his troupe delivered an Opening Ceremony the nation can be proud of. Colour, movement, prose, pyrotechnics, and sound were threaded together in a collage of creative exuberance.

A captive global audience watched the drama of a nation’s life story played out before them. Literature, healthcare, industrialisation, and music – all British-led world-changing developments – were celebrated, and properly so.

Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II (a constitutional monarch, which is a political and legal triumph itself to rival all others) – opened the proceedings and we were off and away.

There was much to be thankful to God for in the events of Friday night. I love my country and I am proud to be British. Of course, there is more to man than achievement and success, yet these things are worthy of celebration. Humankind is wonderful, diverse, and capable of amazing feats.

By celebrating the wonder of man we must never forget to go one step further and celebrate the Creator of man. An athlete may possess the pinnacle of human power, but it still is not powerful enough to fix mankind’s basic problem.

Consider these words from Psalm 33.

The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness,

Consider Him who gave us the potential to produce what the world will now be watching together for the next two weeks. Let us remember that all “honour and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”*

And now to the games. May they be a tremendous success. May the competitors give it their utmost and thrive in competition and the spirit of fair play.

And to Team GB – well done. We’re already proud of you. Take this opportunity, grasp it with the strength you have honed. Spend yourselves and leave nothing in the tank. God speed!

*Revelation 7:12