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Good Morning Once a month in the parish we have a discussion group about what’s in the news and what we think about it. This week the subject of Rio 2016 came up. Despite all the problems surrounding the games - and not having the same sense of expectation as before the start of the London Olympics - we all agreed that the wonderful stories behind the performances of some of Team GB’s early medal winners had changed everything. We were all hooked; watching it all; all of a sudden.” For me it began with Adam Peaty. Here was a lad who had hated going into the water as a child, until he was literally thrown in, to overcome his fear. He’s now the Olympic champion. Katharine Grainger, or as she is now referred to – Katharine the Great has become Britain’s most decorated female olympic athelete. And overnight we’ve heard that Sir Bradley Wiggins has become the most decorated British Olympian of all time. So many sacrifices. Over so many years. But the story which grabbed me the most this week was the remarkable synergy and artistry of divers Jack Laugher and Chris Mears. Their glorious gold medal really did come against all the odds – no wonder Chris broke down in tears, as he had come through a chronic life- threatening illness to achieve his ultimate, gold, Olympic dream. All of these stories are united by the common themes: stickability and endurance. Many could be seen by some as modern parables. We can’t all have the skill of top athletes but their willingness to work at their sport is an exemplar. When Jesus told the parable of the sower, it was speaking to those in an agricultural society, and it was a deliberate way of getting their attention: he talked of real life experiences, places, people and things – and people responded by saying “And that could be me!” These Olympic parables of individual effort and dedication mirror the words of Psalm 31 in which the writer appeals that we should “be brave, be strong and never give up” however tough life is. And, as so many people will attest, life can be tough, with no easy answers or ability to look beyond the ‘now’. But as the action intensifies in Rio later today, perhaps we can take something from the physical, mental and spiritual examples on display. And, in our own little way, become encouraged in our own life’s situations to say: “you know that could be me!”