In a world that predominately celebrates the gifted, the “perfect"
and the privileged, we are rarely afforded a glimpse of the heroic pursuits
that happen daily beyond the pandering press coverage that dominates our media
devices. Our sensibilities are hijacked by the exaltation and idolization of admittedly,
accomplished, but overpaid and excessively-hyped professional athletes who are
genetically gifted and worshipped by the media, advertisers and sports fans. And
quite often, the biggest “winners” wind up being the biggest losers.
Meanwhile, all around us every day, there are great and
valiant human achievements happening that we don’t hear about. There are real
athletes competing against obstacles and opponents we don’t even know exist.
Every day a major feat of heroism is attained with one, tiny, trembling, step
forward.
I recently had the privilege of working at the Wounded
Warrior Trials at the Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. What I experienced
that day was a tremendously inspiring look into a parallel universe where the
power of the human spirit is unbridled; fueled by hope, determination and
victory.
Robbed of limbs, emotionally tormented by the unspeakable
horrors of war, stricken with traumatic brain injuries and life-altering
illnesses, these men and women have risen from ashes. They are rebuilding
themselves; redefining the nature of athleticism; pushing the boundaries of
possibility and demonstrating for us that we are, in fact, the curators of our
own lives.
I was working at the athlete check-in table that day and one
of the hand cycling competitors, Ryan, had not yet checked in for his event. I
inquired with coaches and fellow competitors and they were certain that he
would be coming. He had been training all week with them and was determined to
race. Someone made a phone call and found out that Ryan was “having a rough
morning,” but was on his way.
He finally arrived a few minutes before his race was to
begin. Ryan is a young veteran with severe leg injuries and motor skill
impairment from a serious brain injury he sustained when a bomb detonated while
he was serving in the Middle East. He cannot walk and he has difficulty
speaking as a result of his brain injury.
I cannot begin to imagine the hurdles Ryan has had to
overcome to get to this point. I can only surmise that he has endured multiple
surgeries, hours of agonizing and exhausting physical and emotional therapy, and
the tyranny of the seemingly glacial pace of recovery.
We got him set up for his race and off he went. I don’t know
how he finished that day and it doesn’t really matter. What matters to me is
that despite losing nearly everything just a year or two prior, Ryan made it to
the starting line. And the starting line represents a chance in our lives for
us start anew. It is a moment in time where we can decide who and what we shall
become, regardless of what has come before and what might befall us in the
future.
Every day, every hour and every minute marks an opportunity
for a new beginning. It is there before us for the taking. But we must open our
eyes and extend our arms and reach for it because there is no greater prize
than the chance to start again.
