I am just another set of taps on a keyboard, sharing my unqualified opinion of what happened with Simone Biles. Duly noted. So feel free to scroll right past this post.
I have read several articles - many from people more capable, wiser, and more experienced than I. Some others from people, who are perhaps NOT those adjectives :) But all certainly faster to the keys than I. I waited to opine, thinking that I would read something that resonated perfectly and then I could just share that, not feeling as though I “had” to add to the noise.
But nothing quite echoed the thoughts and feelings I was processing.
So I type.
This may not line up with how you are processing and that is totally fine. I don’t feel the need to be judged or approved - just needed to process.
Carry on…
Several thoughts -
Empathy. For crying out loud, I am a Mom! Naturally, the first thing I feel is pain for that young woman. My heart hurts for her, with her. I want to wrap my arms around her, bring her home, load her up with chocolate and all the bad carbs, and tuck her in bed for a much needed rest. And I want to shield her from all the meanness. Especially that. I want to protect her from all those so quick to condemn - you know, those folks that never even made it to their middle school gymnastics squad.
Encouragement. I want to sit with her for a bit and promise her that life will go on, that the crazies who are lashing out at her are just that - crazy. To infuse confidence back in her, confidence that she is not defined by ANY of her “moments” - good or bad. But rather assure her that her identity is found at the foot of the Cross where the Only One who gets to say who any of us are proclaims that she is loved. No matter what.
Gratitude. I am thankful that, in spite of the mean spirited few who feel free to do the only thing they can do - comment instead of compete - that there are many more who are not condemning. AND that, in spite of the intense environment of competition and expectations, that she represents a country that will allow her to make her own choices. Choices that she deems best for herself, rather than for the country’s potential medal count. I am grateful that she was not forced against her will to continue. And that her teammates appear to be supportive and kind.
Hesitant. Yes, I feel hesitant. Because I don’t know the whole story. I don’t know Simone’s whole story nor do I have any idea what goes on in the world of Olympic competition. I see 29 seconds of a race in a pool, 4 minutes of a routine, or one volleyball match. And that lack of knowledge makes me hesitant to have an opinion, whether “supportive” or condemning. Either one. But some of the info being reported sounds like she was being treated unfairly in the scoring. That makes me angry but I realize I don’t know all the details. So I am hesitant.
Proudly excited. Of my country and the men and women who willingly chose to dedicate themselves to the sacrifices necessary to be deemed worthy of competition. Proudly excited of the UGA connections competing and coaching. And really excited for our hometown hero who will compete in the paralympics next month (GO Jarryd Wallace!!)
Conflicted. Yes, conflicted. While I feel intense empathy for Simone, while I want to encourage her and protect her from further pain, I don’t feel that we can avoid the truth. She quit. She earned a spot on the team, she chose to represent her country, she willingly subjected herself to the rigors of preparation, she went knowing full well what the pressures would be. This was not a situation where her country forced her. This was an earned privilege. A privilege that someone else didn’t get because she beat them out. And she quit before she was done. That doesn’t make me mad at her. That doesn’t make me feel that she is worthy of condemnation. But neither do I feel she should be celebrated. I see that in a lot of places right now - celebrating her because she chose what was “best for her”. Y’all, she quit. No need to cover up the truth. No need to put lipstick on a pig. She quit. The right message instead should be acceptance in spite of her quitting, not celebrating her for quitting. The right thing to celebrate is endurance. Perseverance. Self-denial.
Concern. In the days and weeks ahead, I think this young woman is going to have a hard time. Not as much from the comments from social media but more so from the conversation in her head. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that she eventually regrets her decision to quit. Or at least second-guesses herself. That’s gonna be a hard place. I hope that those of us who follow Jesus will pray for her. Truly.
Keyboard taps over. Almost. :)
Every single one of us is gonna face lots of moments where we have to choose. Maybe not on the world stage like Simone Biles had to but a choice nonetheless. I hope that most of the time, we will choose the path of endurance, having counted the cost before the choice came up. I hope that most of the time, we will not “do what is best for us” if it means that it won’t be best for someone else. And when those times come - which they inevitably will - those times where we falter, we fail, we quit, and have to face the painful consequences of those choices, that we will find ourselves in the arms of our Savior who has never required perfection in order to be accepted.
Amen.