I'm writing this column from Fraser, Colorado, with a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains. A few months ago I mentioned to Melody that I would like to go skiing again and that it would be nice to take the family. Not sure that the words were out of my mouth before she was on the internet trying to find an affordable place to house 12 people.

So, obviously, she was successful and here we are. Patrick and I are the only skiers, so the rest of the family is playing in the snow and having fun -- except for Melody, who is cooking. She said she is having fun because she is surrounded by her babies, so all is well.

It had been nine years since we were last skiing and I was a little worried about being rusty, but like Pat said -- it is like riding a bicycle and came right back. We got into the sport when we won an all-expense-paid ski trip 20-plus years ago. The most expensive free thing I ever won because I was instantly hooked.

The thing about skiing is that when you are on the mountain in the fresh air and enjoying the view, nothing else really matters and you forget all negativity going on in the world. Of course, you do have to come back to reality, but for those few hours, it's just you, nature and the God that created it. Don't think it can get much better than that. If you can't get close to God skiing, then there probably isn't much hope for you.

The other day I was channel surfing (I know that surprises you) and ran across the end of the movie Cool Runnings. In case you don't recognize the title, it's about the Jamaican Bobsled Team that competed in the Winter Olympics in 1988. You probably know that Jamaica does not get snow, so this was a big deal. If you have never seen the movie, it is worth watching. Or, at least read the story -- you will be inspired.

So there was a scene where one of the team members asked the coach why he cheated (he had been found to have cheated for another country as a coach). He said that he had to win the Gold medal. In the course of the conversation, the coach said he regretted it and then made this statement which is the reason for bringing up the movie. He said that if you weren't good enough without it (the Gold Medal), then you would never be good enough with it.

Think about that for a minute. If you aren't good enough without it, then you will never be good enough with it. This means that winning cannot define who you are at anything in life. We all like to win but too many people make it out that winning is everything and anything less is unacceptable.

I am a fierce competitor; but, if nothing else, these last three years have taught me like the coach said, if you aren't good enough without it, then you can never be good enough with it. We are defined by our character, who we are as a person, rather than what we have accomplished in life.

Yes, God expects us to be productive and to serve others, but pride in accomplishments is a human thing. We are the ones that put all the emphasis on winning and what we have done or what stuff we have accumulated. Only if we give credit to God for what we have done do those accomplishments assume meaning.

There are so many people that I admire that make almost all famous people insignificant. They aren't overpaid athletes or self-absorbed actors and performers. They are men and women of great character and faith who truly make a difference in the lives of so many, in so many ways. They are truly good enough without it, because they don't need to have it to define what they are going to do in this life.

We all need to take a step back, drink in the world around us (on a mountaintop or just in our backyard) and let our God tell us what is important in His eyes. Then we can know the real meaning of significance.

And speaking of significance, I want to say thank you to all of you who have reached out to make a difference in the life of our friend Dave Horvath. He told me that he is humbled and blessed by the outpouring he has received from people he knows and many whom he doesn't. Thank you for your kindness.

Kevin Wilson is a former State Representative who was born in Goodman and now lives in Neosho. Opinions are those of the author.