'Such moments reveal what Christian writer C.S. Lewis called “our inconsolable secret,” our universal longing to bridge a gulf between our ordinary lives and this extraordinary life set before us.'
"My Take: With the Olympics, we yearn to be like gods." -- by Joseph Loconte
i tend to agree with Loconte, although a
"My Take: With the Olympics, we yearn to be like gods." -- by Joseph Loconte
i tend to agree with Loconte, although a
hint of cynicism has to come through, & i have to reluctantly acknowledge a degree of selfishness as part of the human condition. we never like to admit that extraordinary ability or achievement comes from anyone but ourselves & that perhaps it is a gift bestowed, a blessing from beyond our own imagination. when we reach a phenomenal milestone, our egos can drown our humility, causing us to say things like "i'm now a legend. i'm also the greatest athlete to live" (u. bolt, 8/9/12).*
for me, part of my lifelong love affair with track & field is rooted in the sport's endless show of what the human body has been gifted to do, feats continually beyond what was once thought reasonably possible. examples --> how far can a human being chuck an aluminum missile? men: 98.48m (323.1', akin to throwing from endzone to endzone in the Superdome), & women: 72.28m (237.1', like throwing the length of the U.S.S. Constitution, the javelin falling into the water with ~30' to spare). how high can a lump of flesh vault itself? men: 6.15m (~20' 2"--approximately the height of 1.5 stacked school buses), & women: 5.06m (16'7"--about 4.75 stacked upright pianos).
we marvel at achievements such as these because we long to be greater than what we are. we realize there's more to it, more than we can understand, explain, or seize on our own, & every four years, the global athletic celebration underscores that knowledge. there is the ideal that we know exists, & the games raise more questions than they answer. what path we will take in order to reach the body & soul we desire so fervently? how far can we go? how far *will* we go? will we each lunge for greatness alone, or will we decide to leap hand-in-hand, taking the rest of humanity with us? &, most importantly, is the essence of perfection within or manifested in a life beyond ourselves?
* - if my unmitigated bias isn't not apparent by now, i absolutely despise bolt's arrogance. while my ten years participating in T&F allow me to respect his unprecedented feat, they also have permitted me access to other incredible athletes, quiet winners who allow their times, heights, & distances to speak for themselves. humility is the mark of greatness, & until he is able to transform his spirit, i will never acknowledge bolt as a true champion.
for me, part of my lifelong love affair with track & field is rooted in the sport's endless show of what the human body has been gifted to do, feats continually beyond what was once thought reasonably possible. examples --> how far can a human being chuck an aluminum missile? men: 98.48m (323.1', akin to throwing from endzone to endzone in the Superdome), & women: 72.28m (237.1', like throwing the length of the U.S.S. Constitution, the javelin falling into the water with ~30' to spare). how high can a lump of flesh vault itself? men: 6.15m (~20' 2"--approximately the height of 1.5 stacked school buses), & women: 5.06m (16'7"--about 4.75 stacked upright pianos).
we marvel at achievements such as these because we long to be greater than what we are. we realize there's more to it, more than we can understand, explain, or seize on our own, & every four years, the global athletic celebration underscores that knowledge. there is the ideal that we know exists, & the games raise more questions than they answer. what path we will take in order to reach the body & soul we desire so fervently? how far can we go? how far *will* we go? will we each lunge for greatness alone, or will we decide to leap hand-in-hand, taking the rest of humanity with us? &, most importantly, is the essence of perfection within or manifested in a life beyond ourselves?
* - if my unmitigated bias isn't not apparent by now, i absolutely despise bolt's arrogance. while my ten years participating in T&F allow me to respect his unprecedented feat, they also have permitted me access to other incredible athletes, quiet winners who allow their times, heights, & distances to speak for themselves. humility is the mark of greatness, & until he is able to transform his spirit, i will never acknowledge bolt as a true champion.
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