Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. (From 1 Corinthians 9)

What’s more important—your soul or the score of the game?  Who is more important—the athlete or Jesus?  Who is more important in this world—the superstar or the poor man living on the street?  What’s more important—truth and honesty or a scholarship?  What’s more important—fair play and following the rules or winning at any cost?  What’s more important—your sisters and brothers in Christ or the big game?  St. Paul tells us to run this race of life not seeking earthly awards and accolades and scholarships and district/state titles, but to run the race with the name of Christ on our lips and in the work that we do!  We should seek the imperishable crown of Heaven by our love, compassion, kindness, mercy, honesty, tolerance, discipline, patience, humility, and the perishable one with these same virtues!  There’s nothing wrong with seeking to win, but there’s a right way to win both the imperishable crown and the perishable one, and there’s a wrong way to win one while forfeiting your soul to worldly desires and notoriety!  Race as to win, my sisters and brothers in Christ, but let us seek the crown of Heaven as the ultimate prize!  Amen!