Life Lessons From the 2012 Olympics

There were so many life lessons that bear repeating from the Summer 2012 Olympics hosted in London, England…the most watched TV event in U.S. history. These lessons flow from the lives, struggles and personal sacrifices of nearly 11,000 athletes from 205 countries. It teaches each of us how to boldly face the many challenges of our time and lives.

Who can ever forget the sheer magic of 16 year old Gabby Douglas’ million dollar smile that framed years of hard work and sacrifice?  Her dogged determination produced two gold medals and a big “I love you” mouthed from the stands by her single parent mother whose prayers and struggles to raise her children alone paid off.  While some got caught up in petty criticism of Gabby’s hair style, or analysis of her mother’s financial woes, Douglas smiled broadly and soared into the history books as the first African American to win the all-around gymnastic trial.

When all-time winning gold medalist superstar swimming champion Michael Phelps lost his first race, a shocked world began to wonder if he was “washed up”.  He could have easily accepted the message that maybe his time for victory had past and given up. Instead, Michael summoned an inner resolve, determined that one bad race would not define his whole Olympic experience, and went on at age 27 to become the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals.  Phelps taught us all that one mistake in our youth, in marriage, a business deal, or a job, should not define the rest of our lives if we are committed to not letting our past become our future.

And what about Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius, the South African sprint runner, known as the “Blade Runner” and “the fastest man on no legs”, who ran on steel that replaced legs amputated from birth? Though Oscar did not win a medal in the 4x400 meter race, he won the hearts of people worldwide that have had their legs out from under them by poverty, bigotry, and hard times, but who stayed in life’s race determined to keep on running on whatever God gave them as legs.

We also learned much from the 2012 Olympians who failed to win gold medals in the 2008 or 2004 Olympics, like Allyson Felix from Los Angeles, who finally won a gold medal in the 200 meter race.  African American youth who have dropped out of school and out of life's race can learn many lessons from Allyson about staying in the race despite the poverty, crime, failing schools, gangs, drugs, and low expectations from too many around them.

The most impactful image of the entire Olympics was the many instances of athletes from different nations, many of them engaged in war or conflict with one another.  Yet, these athletes touched the humanity in all of us as they completed their athletic races, and hugged one another in a spirit of mutual respect for worthy opponents. What a lesson for global leaders today, who are too quick to go to war or presidential candidates knee deep in uncivil language and personal attacks that demonize one another.  The 2012 Olympians taught today’s leaders that they can pursue the same goal---whether political office, land, oil, or vital resources, without going to war or destroying one another. 

And what about the women in the Olympics?  For the first time, every nation had a woman athlete in every sport, despite the oppression and discrimination that women continue to experience in far too many nations today.  Their very presence in the Olympics taught us that there is something about the human spirit that just will not be snuffed out even as the battle for human dignity and women’s equality continues.

The distinctions of race, culture, and geography and language were lost throughout the Olympics as we heard story after story of extraordinary family financial sacrifices and personal tragedies overcome.  These athletes taught us much as they dug down deep into the well of human possibility, despite unbelievable odds against them, to even qualify for the Olympics.  We celebrated each Gold Medalist, especially those from our country; understood the disappointment of Silver Medalists who missed being the best by seconds, and identified with the relief of Bronze Medalists, just grateful to be on the medal stand.   We all want to be winners; the best in our field, celebrated for our hard work, but sometimes, it is just good to be in the race.  While sports is very important and being an Olympian is a worthy goal, all of us can “go for the gold” and strive to be the best in the way we treat people from other races and cultures; the poor, and those kicked to the side streets of life by circumstances beyond their control.  We can all “go for the gold”, even if we just get the silver, bronze, or no medal at all, and strive to be the best in all areas of your life, school, or work.  St. Paul reminded us that we are all to press toward the mark of God’s highest and best for each of us.

So today, when life hands you lemons, smile like Gabby Douglas and make sweet lemonade in your life and community.  When others tell you that you are finished, but God has blessed you with life, breath, and talent like the South African "Blade Runner" – Oscar Pistorius – keep on running toward God’s best for your life.  When you don’t get the gold medal, or even the silver and must settle for the bronze, or no medal at all, like many of the athletes who came to London with a dream of winning, don’t complain or bask in jealousy for the person who got the promotion, contract, or won the political office, or achieved better grades in school that you were seeking. Give thanks that you have the health and strength to just be in life’s race at any level---able to make your special contributions to a better world. Because life is like a race, we can all be Olympians and internalize daily the many life lessons from this magnificent global contest.

Faith Without Works is Dead

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 41^st Annual Legislative Conference was held on September 21-24, 2011 in Washington, DC.  Gathered in one spot were some 10,000 folks from hip hop to high level corporate and small business leaders; from the church to politically savvy women leaders and community organizers, along with the 43 members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).  There were robust intergenerational dialogues and practical “how to” information sharing seminars, led by CBC Members, with some of the nation’s best and brightest thinkers, practitioners and opinion shapers, on every conceivable aspect of African American life, e.g.health care, wealth creation, job development, poverty elimination, and civic engagement.

One of the most popular of all the events was the Saturday morning Prayer Breakfast attracting about 3,000 of many of the same leaders who participated in issue workshops and seminars. I am humbled that 30 years ago, my late husband, Tom Skinner, and I founded the Prayer Breakfast as a sacred place for African American leaders to find spiritual renewal for the hard work of empowerment. The good news is that the faith of African Americans remains intact despite the weakening moral fabric of America. The bad news is that the faith foundation of African Americans in years past included less talk and more practical institution building than is now evident. 

The years following President Abraham Lincoln’s signing the Emancipation Proclamation saw the building of some of the most enduring African American organizations and institutions by folks who understood that “faith without works is dead”.  It is mind blowing that without access to technology, widespread political power, high level management positions, wealth, and the first African American President, Black people built such incredible institutions as Howard, Atlanta University, Fisk, Morehouse, Howard and Hampton universities. Believing in a God who could do anything but fail, they joined with progressive, White Americans to elect African Americans to high political offices, create sororities and fraternities, newspapers, service clubs, churches, banks, life insurance companies and other small businesses. This faith inspired work took place during a time when laws were passed that made Black life expendable with lynchings and terrorist acts against African Americans occurring regularly.

Given our glorious past, even in the midst of great dangers, I firmly believe that it will take the following faith-inspired actions for African Americans to re-gain a high level of political and economic momentum and turn our faith into community building work:  1) African American elders practicing a “lived faith”, reflected in life styles of moral excellence that can be modeled by young people;  2) Well educated African American middle class intentionally building connections and relationships with poor and working class African Americans in efforts to strengthen the total community; 3) Training of African Americans in wealth-creation and encouraging greater financial support of African Americans institutions like NAACP and National Urban League ; 4) Intentional efforts at civic engagement and mass demonstrations to protect civil rights, economic, and political gains made by African Americans, against actions to turn back the clock; and,  5) Mentoring of African American young people by older African Americans to provide the love, nurturing, core values, and support needed to build more stable African American communities. Faith combined with works is the key!