Well, here we are, at long last. After much promotion and hype, the games of the 2008 Bejing Olympiad. I must confess, I've paid more attention to these games this year than I ever have before. The competition, great. The myriad of events, boggling. To a certain extent, what games are actually considered Olympic sports! Table tennis? Are you serious? Batmitton? No way! And they're canning baseball and softball! Unbelievable!
But, all that is all beside the point. If I've learned one thing about the spirit of the games (and perhaps more importantly, world unity); it is this: The ONLY way we, in and only of ourselves (as human beings) can manage to unify is thru... playing together! Playing games. Not conducting business, not managing governments and peoples, not spreading religon; but engaging in sports. Something we're told, from childhood - is only a game. If it is indeed, 'ONLY a game, why is it that it appears that's the singular way we can all come together from around the globe, and get along? I'm certainly not saying we should can everything else and just play games all day, all the time - of course not! Naturally, it is business and governement which paves the way to make these games possible. But when all is said and done, and the athletes arrive and begin the competition, it does give us pause - to admire the dedication, the discipline, the motivation - to get there! To be there!
And its so much more than American league vs. a National league. An Eastern conference vs. a Western conference, with a few fringe teams from Canada thrown in for good measure. Its everybody from everywhere. And nobodys' there knockin' the neighboring competitor. Sure, they wanna beat 'em and be the best! But in the end, show me an athlete who's not better just for being part of the worldwide, community experience. Its beautiful. We could learn so much from adopting the healthy notion of 'playing together.' And as adult, skilled atheltes, it (hopefully) takes away the immaturity of when we're young; and playground hi-jinks with the bullies and troublemakers, who sour the pot for everyone.
I'm so glad I saw the opening ceremonies, and the parade of countries from everywhere imaginable (and some completely unknown!) Seeing people marching, smiling - glad and proud to be where they're from - and represent! And again, ALL there... together! Awesome! Kinda makes you wonder - if it isn't something - kinda like - maybe - what it'll be like, the day God intervenes ultimately with mankind, and we start living right (or playing, as the case may be) the way we were supposed to. Can't wait for closing ceremonies. 'Till then, let the games play on!
Posted at: 10:41 PM | Add Comment