Conference Minister's Corner - 02-10-2026

I am obsessed with Olympic curling. I am riveted by it. I will be up at ridiculous times of night to watch big matches live. I just can’t get enough.

For those who don’t know much about curling, it is a sport where teams “throw” (actually slide) granite stones with handles down a sheet of ice to a bullseye section on the opposite end. The team that gets the most stones closest to the center wins the end. The team with the most points in a certain amount of ends (8 or 10) wins the match.

There is so much fun strategy in curling. Not only are you trying to throw your best shot, but you are trying to leave your opponent with as few good opportunities as possible on their next shot. I adore thinking along with the strategy of the match.

There is another fun aspect to curling. Once the stone leaves the player's hand, the work is not done. Other players get to sweep. Curling brooms are polls with carbon fiber pads on the end. Rubbing the carbon fiber pad on the ice in front of the stone melts the ice slightly, allowing the stone to run faster and possibly curl slightly more. That can alter a shot that you are taking.

During this Winter Olympics, I've found the curling I watch a bit of a spiritual reminder. I think the grace of God throws stones that are meant to impact our world in certain ways. However, we are God’s partners in impacting God’s world with grace. We are like the sweepers doing our part to make sure each stone ends up exactly where God needs it to be. What is needed to make that happen is a belief in the importance of teamwork with the Divine and constantly developing our communication skills with the Divine.

So, if you end up watching some Olympic curling these few weeks, think a little bit on what spiritual lessons it might have to offer.

Peace,

Gordon