“If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does He give them the opportunity to be patient?
If they prayed for courage, does God give them courage? Or does He give them opportunities to be courageous?
If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm, fuzzy feelings? Or does He give them opportunities to love each other?”
— God (played by Morgan Freeman) from the movie Evan Almighty
I’m a big believer in debate, discussion, and the simple acknowledgement of ideas. I think it makes us smarter to debate ideas. I think it helps us grow up and grow outward. I think ideas give us purpose to reach the potential we were put on this Earth to achieve. So believe me when I say, what you are about to read has nothing to do with politics.
It simply has everything to do with the growth we can all make toward being better stewards of the human race.
With that said, I love the Olympics.
I love being a citizen of the United States of America, but I also very much appreciate every athlete who sacrifices to become the best in the world at what they do best. I admire them tremendously. I am thankful for the inevitable—and sometimes reluctant—role modeling they provide every four years during those two weeks where they pour their hearts out competing against the very best in the world.
I’ll be honest when I tell you that I haven’t always felt the aura and pride that normally accompanies patriotism over the past few years. I am saddened by the divide I see and sometimes feel between my brethren and sistren in the United States.
But over the two weeks of the Olympic Games, I felt something different.
I was overwhelmed with patriotic joy.
I am proud to be an American, but my pride grew exponentially during those two weeks. That pride culminated on the final days of the Olympics when our women’s and men’s hockey teams both came from behind against extremely talented Canadian teams to win the gold medal.
I’m not ashamed to say that I was out of my seat cheering in my living room at the end of both games with tears in my eyes.
If we can count on one thing, Americans never quit. They fight until the very end.
How could you not be proud to be part of the stars and stripes watching those athletes compete?
Then there was the aftermath.
The pressure of the situation.
An unexpected comment.
An unexpected reaction.
And… an opportunity.
I started today’s blog with one of my favorite movie lines. Evan Almighty might not have been an Oscar-worthy movie, but I very much appreciated the storyline and the message that was being portrayed.
If someone prays for courage, does God give them courage?
Or does He give them opportunities to be courageous?
The men’s hockey team—and really all of us—were given an opportunity to be courageous. And then they were given a second opportunity, and I imagine there will be many more over the next few months.
Some people have tried.
Some have backtracked.
Some have tried compassion and humor.
Some have gotten angry or resentful.
And I imagine some will eventually feel regret.
I encourage you to debate me, argue with me, and disagree with me if you’d like—but women have not been treated with the respect they deserve for many millennia.
On the final Sunday of the Olympics, I don’t know anyone who looked at those two gold medals—won by our men and women—and didn’t see them as amazing achievements.
Both teams played remarkable games. Both teams amazed us with their talent, teamwork, and resilience.
Both deserved to be celebrated.
Yet, as has happened in many situations throughout history, someone made a comment that did not need to be made. And almost instantly, the shared joy of the moment turned into something else.
Comparison.
Division.
Sides.
When in reality, there were no sides to take.
Our women deserved better.
And once again, opportunities were provided to demonstrate that respect.
At some point, we will all move on from this moment. That’s what always happens. But if we’re paying attention, we can take something valuable with us.
Because opportunities like this will come again.
Opportunities to confront sexism.
Opportunities to confront misogyny.
Opportunities to confront racism.
Opportunities to confront physical, mental, or emotional abuse of any kind.
And when that opportunity comes to you, the real question will be this:
What will you do with it?
Will you say nothing?
Will you look the other way?
Or will you stand up?
Will you speak up?
Will you be courageous when the opportunity is given?
Because courage rarely arrives fully formed.
Most of the time, it arrives disguised as a moment where we must decide what kind of person we want to be.
And those moments—just like the Olympics—don’t come around every day.
But when they do, they reveal everything.
That’s the opportunity for courage.
If you enjoy reflections like this on coaching, leadership, recruiting, and the human side of sport, you can find my weekly blog, podcasts, books, journals, and recruiting resources at coachmattrogers.com.
