Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Less-Than-Olympic Moments 2

This is the second post in a series reflecting on some of the more forgettable moments from this year's Summer Olympics.

This was not a very good year for the U.S. Track & Field team. There were a few shining moments, but it seemed like there were a lot more moments like this.

Both the men's and women's 4×100 relay teams dropped the baton on the anchor leg of the race in the qualifying rounds. To clarify for those of you who don't give a rip about Olympic sports, this is the race when four people run 100 meters, each passing the baton to the next runner.

It sounds so simple. Pass this stick that is a foot long and weighs only 1 1/2 ounces to the person in front of you. But both teams dropped the batons, thus ending their hopes of running for a gold medal.

As John Crumpacker put it, "Watching the bumbling performances of American relay teams Thursday night at the Bird's Nest, it's obvious that while Dick and Jane can run, they sure can't pass the baton around the track."

That's a little harsh. Funny, but a little harsh. It was raining that night. It is the Olympics, so the pressure is intense. I can see where this could happen.

But the problem is that this is an area that USA Track & Field has largely ignored. Crumpacker points out that, "For decades, American 4×100 relay teams have been getting by on superior speed to cover up for less-than-perfect handoffs…That speed brings with it the arrogance of taking for granted the seemingly simple act of passing the baton from one to another."

The lesson in all of this? Details matter. Ignoring the little stuff will eventually come back to bite you.

Are there little, seemingly insignificant details in your life that you need to address? They don't seem like they matter…but over time, it's the little things that can take us down.

Little lies can destroy our credibility.

Lustful glances can wreck a marriage.

Seemingly insignificant words can have a profound effect on your child's life.

You would think that in an Olympic race, speed is all that matters. It's the big thing. But if you can't pass a baton around a track, your speed doesn't matter. The little thing you've ignored will destroy you.