Spirit of the Olympics

I watched some of the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Rio the other night. It is a joy to watch the smiling faces on the athletes, each country coming into the ceremony behind their flag carried by an appointed athlete, and each one wearing the colors or costumes expressive in some way of the their cultures and nations. http://www.nbcnews.com/…/let-games-begin-rio-celebrates-oly…
This coming together of nations is a symbol of the coming together as a world that we long for in our hearts, where the gifts that each culture and nation brings to the world is celebrated. We join together in peace, and in the spirit of aspiration of those who have excelled in pursuit of expressing capabilities of body and mind, who challenge self and other to reach and to expand the boundaries of what can be accomplished in the grace of physical form though athletic endeavor.

These aspirations can symbolize the joining together of hope and aspiration not only for each athlete, but also for each person experiencing the event in any form – in how it reminds each of us to be and do our best. The celebration of the host country – this year Brazil – becomes a way at each year of the Olympics the world comes to experience the one country a little better than before, with its unique gifts to the world. It has its flaws and controversies, such as in the questions regarding resources spent when the needs of the poor go unmet, or the corruptions of performance enhancing drugs. Yet Olympics is beautiful in essence and spirit, evolved as it has from the time of the ancient Greeks in aspiration, dedication, and expression of body and mind - to the profoundly unifying experience in modern era when 209 countries join together in a common pursuit and celebration of excellence and goodness.

This year, also, there is also the Refugee Olympic Team https://www.olympic.org/…/refugee-olympic-team-to-shine-spo… created by International Olympic Committee, recognizing and supporting those who have been forced to leave their countries of origin, so that they can participate in this year’s Olympics. In addition, this is the first year of the “Olympic Laurel Award”. This year recognizes Kip Keino, a former Olympic athlete from Kenya who has done profound work since retirement from competition for children in his native Kenya: “we come into this world with nothing… and depart this world with nothing… it’s what we contribute to the community that is our legacy.” https://www.olympic.org/…/kip-keino-to-receive-olympic-laur…
 
The spirit of coming together as a world stands like the Olympic flame itself, in the hope for the world to come together in goodness and in celebration of all that makes us who we are as a world of peoples. It is a banner of hope and promise of the world we long for in our hearts. It beckons us into the good of that which we long for, at this time of increasing strife and trouble in the world and acts of darkness that cause so much pain. It reminds us of who we can be, and how we can aspire to be, joined as a world, not torn asunder.

The spirit of the Olympics beckons us to build upon the unity and commonality of joining together in this moment, so that the goodness and opportunities that are given to some, can be extended to the many for whom such support would at this time only be a dream. It beckons us to build bridges with all other peoples and cultures of the world, to build understanding, and to work together in the larger Olympics of which we are all part – making this world better for all: where all have food to eat, a safe place to live, the opportunities for a decent living and education, and a platform though to pursue their dreams.

The traditional motto of the United States “E Pluribus Unum” – Out of Many, One – is, as I see it, meant not only for this country, but as an offering to the world: unity of purpose drawing from the extraordinarily multiplicity and diversity of people and cultures of the world. In this time of the Olympics I pray for the deepening of our experience of our Oneness as a world. In ways perceptible and imperceptible, may the knowing grow within each person’s heart, though the spirit of our coming together as a world this way, of the calling and necessity though love and common purpose to respond to the needs of all who suffer greatly. May the spirit of Oneness that people intuit or experience, catalyze and support the desire and the commitment to give to, and to create opportunities for, the many who do not have the benefit of experience circle of care and resources that some have received. May all people come to receive of global heart of which we are all part, and whose benefits are meant to be shared by all.

Blessings on the Olympic games in Brazil, for 2016, and all the connections among people and within hearts that flower and grow from this.