As the 2016 Olympics in Rio wind down, I am once again reminded of the beautiful, graceful, powerful drama of sport, particularly in the great variety of athletes from so many countries.
Sport, in general, often demonstrates a combination of individual achievement and teamwork, as I learned having spent so much of my life involved in various athletic endeavors, particularly basketball. Basketball is team oriented with a small group of 12-15 individuals, who not only play together, but practice and socialize and can get to really know each other because of the small size of the group. Then, in a very intense way, five players share a focused mission with plays on the court at a certain time, plays that often break down quickly necessitating creative reaction and improvisation. Ultimately basketball players play offense and defense in quick transition. Very often, every time down the floor, all five players at least touch the ball and the importance of communication and trust are vital to a team’s success. I may be a bit partial to the art, skill and athleticism involved in basketball but, arguably there is no greater team dynamic in all of sports. Other team sports have slightly different dynamics, but take note of the sense of team in basketball, as well as the combination of individual skill and teamwork.
Then there are intensely individual sports, such as golf or certain swimming events or other sports, where one athlete competes more against a clock or for judge’s approval than against other teams during their performance. A team dimension of these sports often come into play as numbers or places are added up, lending another interesting dynamic of team and performance and, ultimately, success or winning.
What I find fascinating about the Olympics is the background stories and, in many cases, the road to this world stage that so often causes athletes and countries great pride in a mutual representation. The combination of individual and team takes on a much broader importance on such a world stage.
When I was in the thick of my investment in athletics as a much younger (and thinner) man, the sense of team was captivating. As the years have passed I have transitioned from an intensely team oriented game of basketball to an intensely individual one in golf. Recently, after a funeral on a Thursday somewhat interfered with my normal golf plans, I played 18 holes by myself. As I did so I was engrossed in the fact that the game was me against the course, which, even in the midst of a team match, is pretty much always the case. Each round involves anywhere from 75 to 100 individual performances of execution, yielding a final score. In other words, you are pretty much on your own for every swing and every stroke. In the Olympics the sense of team for even the most individual sport is intensified as athletes represent their countries.
The individual/team dynamic is important, and as I continue to reflect on my own experience, the emphasis and even memory of earlier athletic competitions fade. What has increased is the cherished relationships that I formed and the lessons I learned about discipline, trust, support, hard work, determination and many more WITH others. All of these things are essential to the aspect of community that I am honored to share with all of you here. I still believe that sports provide one of the greatest examples of community in our culture, and I know it has provided a foundation for me as we both build and share it at Holy Family.
As you watch the Olympics wind down, whether you are a sports fan or not, notice some of the dynamics in these games and apply them to our sense of community here at Holy Family. We come from many different cultures with many different theologies and ideas. Almost every Eucharistic celebration, particularly on the weekends, is like an Olympic demonstration of the coming together of our individual selves and who we are as a team. Perhaps you don’t see yourself as a part of a team and you are focused on your own relationship with God. Your opportunity is to connect with others who are being called by Christ, just as you are, to be the Body of Christ. That is the greatest team any of us can belong to. Perhaps you are overly focused on others and have neglected your own unique qualities and gifts. Your opportunity is to embrace who you are as uniquely created and loved by God with very specific talents and skills to add to the team performance. Most of us are probably somewhere in between, constantly balancing our individual performance and that of our teams, and sometimes doing so almost unconsciously.
Please mark your calendar for an evening for Prayer, Peace and Unity on Wednesday, September 7 at 7:00pm. We will not have evening Mass that night; instead we will offer you and anyone that you would like to invite a time and place to spend in prayer for so much violence, hatred and terror that seems to be escalating in our world. There will be extended periods of silence accompanied by readings and Taize style music. You will also have an opportunity to write down your feelings and prayers in the midst of some chaotic times.
Next weekend, August 27 and 28, we will have a video presentation from many of our volunteers who enhance and advance our bold mission here at Holy Family. We are blessed to have so many of you who have participated in and continue to participate in formation for the many ministries that you have been called to do by God and encouraged to do by this wonderful faith community. Many volunteers both add to and enrich our ministry efforts. It is actually staggering how many volunteers we have here, but also how many more we need to carry out the ministry needs of our community and beyond. Please begin to prayerfully reflect on the talents and skills that God has given you as well as the needs that we have here at Holy Family. Where those two things come together is a powerful ignition of the flame of the Holy Spirit.