Gold Medals and Moments

Gotta love the timing of the 2024 Olympics! Wars, tensions, divisions and even small snits sap joy and hope around the world. So, it's good to see nations at play for a couple of weeks. And to watch Stephen, "Pommel Horse Guy," win fans, as well as medals. However, apart from his amazing skill on a crazy apparatus, the pommel horse, (who thought that up?) it's his Clark Kent-like glasses and geeky superhero aura that keeps winning. Before Paris, Stephen Nedoroscik's brainy acts belonged more on the cover of Popular Mechanics than People magazine. Which proves that we need help learning to appreciate differences.

But back to the big picture and why I enjoy the Olympics. Every now and then, I love feeling part of something so unlike me. The Olympics is a global gathering to watch the world cheer as athletes compete. It's encouraging to catch moments of sportsmanship, to see losers congratulate winners who won by split seconds over them.

And speaking of moments, quite the sight to watch Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles honor Rebeca Andrade from Brazil during the medal ceremony. Instead of standing, Simone, silver medalist and Jordan, bronze winner, knelt on either side of Rebeca, hands raised towards her. A Stunning sight as they honored the gold medal winner. Unforgettable. Sometime, during the course of the competition, a mic picked up Simone saying to Rebeca, "You bring out the best in me." And Rebeca responded with, "It's an honor to compete against you." Goodwill's catchy. And so is respect.

However, as I watch, sometimes a soundtrack plays in my mind. It's Hammerstein's lyrics from South Pacific: You've Got To Be Carefully Taught. Why? As a mom, grandmother, and former teacher, I enjoy being around children. And while kids get into snits, they are not natural enemies. Curiosity and playfulness draw them together. Kids catch fear and hate from us. And that's, perhaps, why these lyrics challenge.

"You've got to be taught to hate and fear, you've got to be taught from year to year. It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear--you've got to be carefully taught."

The lyricist warns that we must teach children to fear people with eyes and skin unlike ours. And what else are we to teach? "Teach them to hate all the people our relatives hate." Which explains a lot of what's happening in our world, country, churches and families.

And perhaps, this is why an old Sunday School song still matters. It warns us to be careful about what our ears hear and our eyes see. But it also says to watch what our mouths say and hands do. Why? Because, "the Father up above is looking down in love." Love?! Why? Well like another Sunday School song says,"Jesus loves the little children. ALL the children of the world." And God loves big kids like we see at the Olympics and their families and ones who couldn't come or participate because they're at war or enduring the unimaginable.

So, it helps me to watch the world at play. Even for a couple of weeks.To catch some golden moments in time. And to remember God's looking down in love, eager to catch us making something good happen for someone else. Remember, Love never loses. And moments matter more than medals.