Written by Larry Smith:
One of the gifts I recently received for my 70th birthday was the book The Boys in the Boat, a Depression era story of nine young Americans and their epic quest for gold in the 1936 Nazi controlled Berlin Olympics. For me, a Southern Minnesota farm boy with no prior interest or experience in eight-oar crew, this book was much more than an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times.
At one point a coach took the main character aside and told him that there were times when he behaved like he was the only fellow in the boat, as if it was up to him to row the boat across the finish line all by himself. He pointed out that a well-oared race was like a symphony, and each crew member was one player in the orchestra. If one player is playing out of tune, or playing at a different tempo, the whole piece would naturally be ruined. In rowing, what mattered more than how hard a man rowed was how well everything he did in the boat harmonized with what the other fellows were doing. A winning crew must, by necessity, be made up of crewmates who care for, love and open their hearts to one another. When he really starts trusting the other boys, he will feel a power at work that is far beyond what he ever imagined. “Sometimes, you will feel as if you have rowed right off the planet and are rowing among the stars.”
As a visual person, this was a “wow moment” for me. A reminder of what I know intuitively, but have a hard time always keeping front and center. The coach was talking relationships. He was talking friendship, trust, loyalty, support and love. Only when these virtues are present can one “row right off the planet!”
Over the years, I have had a number of “rowing among the stars” experiences in my many environments of community, college, work, family, grandchildren, parish, Cursillo, etc. In these times, life seems to be on automatic pilot and little more could I ask for.
But what about the troughs of life? All the environments of my life contain relationships with my God and people. In trough times, I seem to be out of sync with the rest of my orchestra. Am I thinking I am the only oar man in the boat? Am I trying to do everything myself? Have I moved from God? Am I loving unconditionally, if at all? Am I caring for and opening my hearts to others? Am I even trying to work in harmony with those around me?
I now have new tools, new questions to ask myself when I am down. In the meantime, please step into the boat of love and trust with me. There is room for all.
Larry Smith W/E #77 Mary, Mother of the Church
