Everybody needs a hero, right? More often than not, we look to the super stars; those who are grace the covers of Sports Illustrated, Time, or the front page of the newspaper. Growing up in gymnastics, I originally idolized girls like Kim Zmeskal, Dominique Moceanu, Dominique Dawes, and Shannon Miller. They were richer, more famous, and more talented than I was at such a young age.
The older I get, however, the more I look up to those who seem to be beneath me from a worldly perspective. Most recently, I have found significant encouragement from a group of young men who have hardly left one of the smallest, most poverty-stricken countries of the world and have been physically disabled beyond what I can imagine.
While visiting Haiti last month, you may know that we got the privilege of meeting a soccer team full of amputees (3 of which lost limbs in the January 2010 earthquake). They were staying near us at the Mission of Hope complex, and our team was astounded as we watched them practice and go through some soccer drills one of the first days we were there. Near the end of the week, we got the opportunity to greet them in person and scrimmage the team. Us, a group of rag tag North Americans who had minimal soccer skills (well, at least I have minimal soccer skills), and them, facing the challenge of playing with one-legged on crutches (fielders) or with one hand (goalies).
Two weeks ago, our amputee soccer friends traveled to America to train for the Amputee World Cup, to which they had been graciously given an automatic entry, at the facilities of a professional soccer team. To our great surprise but I'm certain not coincidentally, they were here in the Dallas area using FC Dallas's equipment and field in Frisco. Once again, we had the honor of spending time with these men. We heard their stories, laughed a ton over some rice and beans at Watermark, and got to share our love for these friends at The Porch one Tuesday night. They, too, were astounded to see the same group of Americans they had played against in Haiti in our natural environment, but we looked at pictures together and remembered the time of fellowship we had kicking around a soccer ball.
Last week, the team was in Argentina playing in the World Cup. Though I sadly don't believe they have gotten the upper hand in a game down there yet, they have encouraged all they have come across and served as a beacon of hope from a dark place. We got an email last week from an American who is traveling with them, and he signed off with this: "Haiti- the basket case of the world is becoming the showcase of servant leadership for the high and mighty of this world! Praise God!"
I keep that email and some pictures printed off at my desk to remind me of where true greatness is found. Not in magazine covers or championship rings. Not in Grammys or Academy Awards. But the humility using your circumstances or plight in this life to glorify Jesus. Amen to these precious children of His. Some pictures are below, and while I have the floor, let me also encourage you to check out my friend Suzanne's blog, as she is fabulous with a camera and has recently posted dozens of shots to peepsandicecream.blogspot.com. Check them out! You can also find out more about Haiti's amputee soccer team, and other athletic opportunities for those with disabilities/physical challenges at www.iisport.org.
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| Pic after our scrimmage in Haiti |
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| Taken at Watermark when the team was in Dallas |
