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And yet. Alongside examples of moral decay, we witness moments of grace, beauty and courage. We watched a rare moment Monday night when these three virtues embraced in the fall and resurrection of Zhang Dan, the delicate 20-year-old skater from China. She and her partner, Zhang Hao, were trying to become the first pairs skaters ever to complete a successful quadruple throw salchow. Instead, on the fourth revolution, Zhang opened up early and fell to her knees, crashing into the ice with a frightening thud, sliding helplessly into the sideboards.

There was a collective gasp, followed by long minutes of anxiety. But she got up. And she skated again, trusting her partner and her knee to finish what they started. And they won the silver. Anybody who had dry eyes after that is as hardhearted as Pharaoh.

No, the Olympics is not about world peace just around the corner or even far away: it's about humanity as we find it now, both fallen and triumphant. It's a reminder of narcissism, injustice, and greed, as well as a celebration of discipline, courage, and grace. And thus my twinge of sadness, a Pauline poignancy (Rom. 8), that inner longing for liberty from bondage and decay, accompanied by an inward groan, as we eagerly await the closing ceremonies of the ambiguous game we call history.

Mark Galli is managing editor of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Other Play Ball columns include:

Should We Ban Boxing? | The usual arguments against the "sweet science" cut many ways. (Oct. 28, 2005)

Something Noble and Good | Professional sports is often boring, but real sports is not. (May 13, 2005)

The Lovely Paradox of NFL Draft Day | It's an event of biblical proportions—and wisdom. (April 29, 2005)

Negotiating Sunday Sports | This culture war was lost long ago. Now what? (April 15, 2005)

The Prodigal Sports Fan | There is hope for the idolater. (April 08, 2005)

The Thirst of the 24/7 Fan | Understanding the idolatry in sports. (March 01, 2005)

March Madnesses | The layers of insanity know no end—thank God. (March. 18, 2005)

Spectating as a Spiritual Discipline | For those who have eyes to watch, let them watch something more than highlight films. (March 11, 2005)

The Grace of Sports | If Christ can't be found in sports, he can't be found the modern world. (March 4, 2005)

Baseball Isn't Entertainment | The sooner we stop thinking sports are about the spectators, the more enjoyable the games will be. (Feb. 25, 2005)

Rooting for T.O. | Why Terrell Owens irritates most of us most of the time. (Feb. 11, 2005)

Freedom Between the Goal Posts | Sports is much more important than our culture lets on (Feb. 4, 2005)

Salt and Light in the Arena | It's going to take more than a few good Christians to clean up sports. (Feb. 18, 2005)

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February (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50