Greetings!
I’m all about the Olympics this week, which concludes this weekend. If you’re still interested in the international games, read on. If not, check back another week.
- Lesson from Lochte’s liability
Boy, what a mess! U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte and his three teammates ended their Rio experience with a national nightmare. It was announced this morning that Lochte posted an apology through social media. That’s probably the best decision he’s made since last Sunday.
From the latest report that has been given, attention on this way-too-early-in-the-morning incident has reached beyond necessity. Lochte himself did not have to tell such a whopper of a tale in the first place. He and his boys did some dumb stuff at a gas station. They were confronted by security guards in order to pay for their actions. They paid for the repairs and were free to go.
Now, if THAT is what Lochte said or if he didn’t blow up the situation with his false narrative on NBC, he would be in the clear, his boys wouldn’t have to be detained in Brazil and more focus would be on the athletes who are currently competing. Instead we now have an international disaster.
Here’s the lesson, boys and girls. TELL THE TRUTH! If you face a troubling situation, don’t replicate a Seinfeld plot. The sooner in the situation you admit exactly what happened, the FAR better off you will be. If you are completely in the wrong, you know you messed up, confess it, apologize for it, begin whatever needs to happen to reconcile.
Reconciliation – it’s one of my favorite words. Just thinking about it makes me breathe better. Believe me, dear friends, reconciliation is so much better to experience than covering up a wrong doing. Maybe it takes a long time to reconcile, but it is still worth it.
Now that Lochte has apologized, his reconciliation can now begin.
- Gabbing about Gabby
Gabby Douglas was under as much scrutiny as Lochte this week. The gymnast did not place her hand over her heart during the national anthem of the ceremony when her team won gold.
I remember watching this live. First of all, I love the medal ceremonies and hearing the Star Spangled Banner played. And I do pay attention to see how the gold medal winners react. I did notice Gabby was the only one on her team not to place her hand over her heart. I’m convinced, if she were the only one on the medal stand, she wouldn’t have faced this criticism.
People are different in how they conduct themselves during the anthem. I could go off on how many people in the stands act while the anthem is playing during a ballgame, and it’s much more disrespectful. In fact, Gabby wasn’t disrespectful at all. She explained afterward that she stands at attention when the anthem is played. That’s good enough for me.
- Crushed about Keri
Keri Walsh Jennings is my favorite Olympian. For four Olympic events, I’ve watched her play and enjoyed how awesome she is in that volleyball sand pit. When she lost earlier this week, I was crushed. She and April were outplayed by a great Brazilian duo, but it was still unexpected for me.
But Keri handled the loss graciously, as I knew she would. I also was moved by April’s reaction as she and Keri hugged immediately after the matched ended. You could tell April hurt for Keri as it appeared she mouthed “I’m sorry.” Though her back was to the camera, I imagine Keri shared encouraging words and responded as a person with high character.
I don’t know if Keri has made a profession of faith, but I do wish more people would emulate how she conducts herself in good times and disappointing times. To me, Keri is a winner in life.
- Joyful for Jenny
Jenny Simpson won the bronze medal in the women’s 1,500 meter run and became the first American woman to medal in the event.
I wrote about Jenny’s parents in “More than Gold: Parents pray for, cheer on daughter”
“I pray a prayer for her that has never changed,” said Janet Barringer, Jenny’s mother. “Her racing is a God-given talent and has been bathed in prayer ever since the beginning.”
I ended the piece asking to join her parents in lifting Jenny up, and God answered by allowing Jenny to experience an historical achievement.
- My favorite Olympic journal
I shared last week that reading Bill Hancock’s daily Olympic journal is one of my favorite supplements to the Games. I haven’t read his Friday entry yet. But I love this passage he wrote earlier this week:
“Today I waved at an older woman who was sitting behind a 10ish-year-old boy. The woman waved and tapped the boy on the shoulder. He grinned but didn’t wave back. He was all dressed up in his Team Brazil outfit, no doubt headed for an Olympic event. But he will remember the guy in the funny hat who smiled and waved and maybe he will know the world is a good place.”
The only thing I would personally change if I were in this situation is I would hope I could help the young boy know more about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is far better than knowing the world is a good place.
- Former OBU athlete in 4×100 meter relay
If you watch the Olympics tonight (Friday), check out the men’s 4×100 meter relay around 8:35 p.m. (CST). Mike Rodgers is running the first leg. He’s a former Oklahoma Baptist University athlete.
You can read about him and other former OBU athletes in the Olympics here.