The Daily Detour

A refreshing display of sportmanship

Maybe you have already seen this story, but if not, I pass it along to you for some encouragement. The incident involves high school football player Matt Ziesel, a young player with Downs Syndrome who was part of the team but was never able to play. He was so enthusiastic that he suited up with pads and helmet every game, ready and willing to get into the game, but he only road the bench. Until this week. In a blow-out game, both teams worked to make it an unforgettable night for Matt.

On a related, more serious note, imagine if Matt's parents had followed the admonition of people like bioethicist Peter Singer and had eliminated people like Matt whose lives Singer has deemed as "not worth living". So many opportunities lost...

UPDATE: My apologies to any of you who clicked the link above and were taken to a Bonhoeffer book at Amazon. A technological oversight brought to my attention by one of our alert readers. The problem is corrected now and should take you to this very heart-warming story (and a link to the video of Matt's touchdown run).

The wait is finally over! :)

It's official! I...FINALLY...HAVE...A...REAL...JOB!!! (You can only imagine how happy my wife, Jean, is. And how happy I am because of that! :)

Even I can't believe it, but it's true. As of last week, I have secured full-time employment for the foreseeable future. It only took 13 months, much, much longer than I ever anticipated. :)

I was just hired as the Executive Director of the Sagamore Student Leadership Initiative. Some of you may already be aware of this student development start-up idea. I've been talking about my having been working for quite a while with a committed group of leaders here in Indianapolis to see about getting it off the ground. (In looking back at my notes, I was surprised to discover that we have been slowly-but-surely moving this idea forward since September of 2005).

Briefly, the SSLI is an organization that is dedicated to equipping next-generation leaders to exercise strategic leadership in the culture. It centers around educating them on who we are as a country and culture--teaching them to understand and respect our past in order to impact our future. Incorporated in this effort is also the opportunity to help young people begin to recognize their passions and calling in life, develop certain fundamental leadership skills, and pursue those passions in whatever endeavor they pursue in the culture (e.g. media, journalism, law, business, education, politics, science, sports, etc.).

I must say, I'm very excited about this opportunity to be able to impact the next generation of leaders to go out and make a lasting difference in the world. (We certainly need that kind of positive influence.) But this endeavor is not without it's significant challenges. (So don't be surprised if many of you begin to hear from me, since I'll be reaching out to anyone and everyone who I think may be able to help us out with this effort. :) Right now, we have no website yet, no real office yet, no letterhead, no staff...not even a stapler. But at least we have the first and only employee, ME! :) The rest are minor details by comparison and will be taken care of in due time.

I will be posting a more personal follow-up this week on all of this, but for now, I wanted you all to at least be aware that Yours Truly (and the rest of the family) are finally off the bread line. :)

Did Michael Vick commit the unpardonable sin?

As you may know, Michael Vick, the former NFL quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, was recently released from prison after serving a 2+ year prison sentence for dog-fighting. Upon his release, the big question was whether or not a team would want him to come play for them. (In the meantime, he has been receiving spiritual council and mentoring from former Indianapolis Colts coach Tny Dungy.) Coach Andy Reid of the Philadelphia Eagles answered the question by signing Vick to play for them.

The reaction to Michael Vick's reinstatement into the NFL has been mixed, to the say the least. On one side, people feel that Vick has every right to pursue his career, having paid his debt to society. On the other side, people are vehemently responding to this development by suggesting that Vick should not be allowed back in the NFL. Furthermore, many are reacting as if Vick committed the unpardonable sin when he tortured and killed the helpless dogs on his property. (Ironically, there doesn't seem to be the same outrage directed toward those who torture and kill helpless babies every day.)

So, what do you think about Michael Vick's situation? Has he paid his debt for his crimes? Should he be able to rebuild his life? Or, is there more he should pay for what he did? Will his debt ever be paid? 

Tennis pro facing gender issues

(TDD Content Warning: Some of the content in the post may be unsuitable for some of our younger TDD readers. Please use appropriate discernment.)

German tennis pro Sarah Gronert is embroiled in controversy, and it has very little to do with her tennis ability. Instead, it is her ambiguous gender which has caused some very heated reaction. Ms. Gronert was born with a very rare condition which resulted in her having both male and female genitalia at birth. Since then she has undergone corrective surgery to remove the male genitalia, so she is now officially certified as a female.

But the questions still persist. There are those who think that her gender ambiguity has given her an unfair advantage in the sport. "There is no girl who can hit serves like that, not even Venus Williams," says Schlomo Tzorefm, the coach of an opponent Gronert recently beat. "This is not a woman, it's a man." 

I bring this story to your attention to visit the deeper issue of gender and personhood itself, an issue that comes up regularly here at The Daily Detour. As one writer posed, "What makes a man a man, and what makes a woman a woman?" Indeed, this particular case in the world of sports highlights the central issue in the homosexual/transgender debate. With many people undergoing surgery to change their gender identity, one wonders, "What exactly is the difference between a man and a woman?" (Is it simply related to the presence, or absence, of one's sexual organs? Or, is there more to the answer than that? What happens, for example, if a man is castrated by accident or intention--does he cease to be male?)

Certainly, God designed human beings to have identifiable genders. And different sets of genitalia are an integral part of that design. The complimentary nature of each set of organs testifies to their respective roles in the procreation (and recreation :) of the human species. But are we truly defined by those sex organs? (No more, I would argue, than the true beauty of a person disfigured in an accident or fire is defined by the resulting physical condition of their body.)

Within God's economy, we are so much more than our physical bodies. After all, Scripture is clear that we are made "Imago Dei", that is, in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6). In fact, it is that reality which defines so much of our view of humanity and personhood, and the corresponding dignity that is inherently accorded the human race that other species do not share.

Sometimes, because Scripture refers to God in the masculine sense, we may fail to remember that women are also made in the image of God. While many theologians in history have wrestled with exactly what the "Imago Dei" idea means, we do know that we as the created originate from the Creator. Thus, while both men and women fall on the continuum of defining human characteristics, there are certain strengths which more readily represent one gender or the other. For example, the essence of masculinity--which may include qualities of physical strength, fierce protectionism, and a logical rationality--is complimented by the strengths that make up the essence of women--relational intimacy, emotional connection, nurturing presence, and greater sensitivity. And vice versa. But God defines all of these qualities and more. And He has created us with such qualities. Moreover, we see the perfect representation of those qualities come together in the confines of marriage between men and women. That is how God designed our most intimate relationships to be. And it's only possible if indeed there are distinguishable, necessary differences between men and women.

(I'll leave for a future post an expansion of this idea within the confines of the most intimate of relationships between men and women. But in the meantime, I leave you with this idea to chew on, "Why are women necessary? Put another way, when we think about the creation account in Genesis 1 and 2, what was it, if anything, about the original relationship between God and Adam that was insufficient in itself--to the point that only the creation of a woman would provide the missing ingredients?" Particularly if God is perfect in Himself. Something to think about... :) 

The Dungy era is over

Many of you may have heard, especially if you're in the Indianapolis area, that Tony Dungy's tenure as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts has come to end after 7 great years. As he has done every season for the last five, Coach Dungy took some time to consider whether or not to retire from football. In the end, he decided to end his long, distinguished 28+ year career as a coach and player in the NFL.

The immediate reactions are to be expected--much sadness and resignation that we here in Indy must adjust to life without Coach Dungy. He leaves the Colts organization as the winningest coach in franchise history and has posted at least 10+ wins/season in the last 6 seasons. In the midst of that record is the unforgettable 2006 Super Bowl championship.

But, to a person, it is Coach Dungy the man who has engendered profound respect. His impact on our community (and the nation) has extended far beyond the football field. And his demeanor and leadership as a coach has been indelibly imprinted by his devout Christian faith. He stands as someone who was never shy about acknowledging the pivotal role that his faith has played in his life, including the untimely death of his son a few years ago. He has stood tall as a role model for so many people, as someone who both personally and professionally lives the right way. For those of us Christians who may often struggle with being willing to make a public display of our faith in the workplace and elsewhere, Coach Dungy's life and corresponding reputation, stand as a stark example of the impact one's faith can have if it is lived out in a consistent way.

And though he assures us  that he "will always be a Colt", it is difficult to see him go. Thank you, Coach Dungy, for all you've done for this city and for establishing the Indianapolis Colts as a first-class organization. It has always been evident that it came from the top down. We can only thank you for so many unforgettable football memories...and so much more! 

UPDATE: The Indianapolis Star's sports writer, Bob Kravitz (whose bandwagon approach to sports commentary often evokes frustration for me) has written a very thoughtful column about Coach Dungy. It summarizes the Coach, and the man, well. Also, here's Gary Varvel's cartoon regarding Coach Dungy's departure.

Chinese gymnasts to be stripped of gold?

That is the question under consideration. As I was watching Phil Dalhauser and Todd Rodgers beat the Brazilians in a very exciting 3-game match late last night, NBC's Bob Costas broke in with the story that was already making the rounds on the internet. There has been a swirling controversy about the ages of some of the Chinese gymnasts.

According to international gymnastic rules, participants must turn 16 by the end of the Olympic year, but a few of the Chinese gymnasts looked to be much younger. The Chinese Gymnastic organization has been assuring everyone that there is not an age issue, using the girls' passports as proof of their birthdates. But now a computer security expert, Mike Walker, has uncovered official documents that may shed new light on the issue that many have already suspected. The International Olympic Committee has launched an official investigation.

If it's proven that the Chinese gymnasts are indeed underage, then they would be stripped of their gold medals. This would mean that the U.S. Gymnastics team would get the overall gold, and Nastia Liukin would get a gold medal for her performance on the uneven bars. The Chinese gymnastics team would be left with two bronze medals. Stay tuned as the drama continues.... 

Beach volleyball at its best

Okay, it's finally time for bed...aaahhh, these late-night Olympics! I just witnessed Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor endure a downpour to win Olympic gold in 2-on-2 beach volleyball (which happens to be my favorite sport). They won the gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Thus, this is the second consecutive gold medal for these two incredible athletes (the first time this has happened for any volleyball duo).

Karch Kiraly and the rest of the announcers were unhesitant to say that Walsh and May-Treanor are the best beach volleyball team in history (some very high praise from a volleyball legend in his own right). It was incredible! And I've never seen two Olympic athletes so genuinely excited about a gold medal. It was incredible to watch. (And now I can sleep a happy man--makes me want to get back out to the beach for a little 2-on-2. :)

Michael Phelps = pure gold

These Olympic Games are killing me...mostly because of sleep deprivation. I end up staying up until the wee hours of the morning every day trying to catch the entire televised broadcast. But it's more than that; the drama of the Games has frayed my nerves at points.

Take the 100 Fly event when Michael Phelps pulled off an improbable victory over Serbia's Milorad Cavic by a mere 1/100th of a second (literally, the length of a fingernail). Or, last night's disappointing loss by swimming icon Dara Torres, who came up heartbreakingly short by the same slim margin in her attempt to win her first individual goal. (Torres is the 41-year old mother who is competing in her fifth Olympics--and she could have competed in seven Olympics if she had chosen to do so.)

Michael Phelps capped off his incredible experience in Beijing with the help of his swimming teammates, winning his 8th gold medal of the Games. And in so doing, he surpassed the mark set by Mark Spitz.

The potential to witness Olympic history is what forced me to resist the strong pull of Morpheus and watch Phelps & Co. swim into the stuff of legend.

Then it was lights out. The race was over by about 11:10 p.m. Jean got home from a girl's night out and came in to talk to me at 11:20 p.m. She could not rouse me. I was unconscious and only found out she had come in when I awoke this morning.

But through bleary eyes of my delirium I do vaguely remember a young 23-year old swimmer named Michael Phelps become the greatest Olympian of all time. There are those even suggesting that we will never witness such a feat again. It was truly an incredible moment.

It's official: I'm a football fan!

Here's my the latest email update I sent to Jean yesterday. It's a bit longer than usual, but the events of the last couple of days required more descriptive details. Hope you like "football"... I do now. (It was by force. :)

Hey Jean,

I wanted to get back to you in more detail sooner than now, but I've been sitting in lectures all day. Things are continuing to go well overall, though I'm having to navigate a few minor bumps in the road from time to time. For example, I had the pleasure of crashing my buddy Keith's pad again last night. This time it wasn't a slip up on my part. Instead, we had been invited over to Ian Smith's house for a BBQ. (You probably remember him from when we chatted with him in the RZIM office back in January.) They live about a half an hour outside Oxford. It's a very nice house with a rock wall enclosing the backyard and garden. The whole group was there, including the RZIM staff and their spouses, and we were treated to a first-rate meal of every meat you can imagine (steak, hamburgers, Bratwurst, chicken, etc...). I felt like I'd died and gone to heaven! :) They had all the trimmmings, as well as, desserts to die for.

The event started at 6:00 p.m. and we ate until about 7:45 p.m. That was when the European Championship League football (that's "soccer" for us American blokes) game came on. Our SAS buddy, Mark, had specifically ensured that we would be able to watch the game during the BBQ. Actually, it was less of a question and more of an order. :) And given the lethal nature of his background, it was insisted that we should all join in the occasion. Who were we to say, "No!"?

Unbeknownst to those of who live cloistered lives on the other side of the ocean, this was basically the equivalent to our SuperBowl--nearly a national holiday in Europe. I was fortunate to have Rebecca's (the gal from Harvard) husband, Josh, sitting near me. He used to play collegiate soccer, so he could answer my endless questions about the specifics of the game. Not only that, but the other John in our group (the wonderfully-hearty Scotsman whose accent and robust demeanor reminds me of a Christian version of Groundskeeper Willie, the Scottish janitor on The Simpsons :) was there to add the needed passion to the game. He used to play semi-professional soccer until injuries short-circuited his career, and his love of the game was evident. (He actually reminded me of the good 'ole days when we would try to watch I.U. basketball games with Dad. Watch out for flying objects!)

The game was historic. Apparently, this was the first time that two English teams had met in the finals--Manchester United and Chelsea. With John in the room, you didn't dare reveal yourself to be a Chelsea fan. (Not that I had a preference, but with the peer pressure, I guess I'm a Man U. fan now. Who knew? :)

The game has two 45 minute halves, and by the end of regulation is was 1-1. In such situations, they then go into two 15-minute overtime halves. After the overtime, it was still tied. So then they had a shoot-out, with 5 players from each time having the potential to kick. If it's still tied after the first round of the shoot-out, then they keep going until one team prevails. Needless to say, with the shootout the tension in the room got pretty thick. The final score of the shoot-out was 6-5, Manchester United squeaked by with the victory and the crowd went wild! Fortunately, Ian and Rosemary Smith's house survived in one piece.

All that to say......it was nearly 10:15 p.m. when the game got over. And because the last bus runs at 10:10 p.m. from Oxford, I was in a pinch. But Keith graciously adopted me in again. (We finally decided that I should just leave a toothpaste and deodorant at his place for the foreseeable future. :) It was worth it, though. We had a great time, and the whole evening gave us the full English experience, to say the least.

Tonight, they have a formal dinner. But because I couldn't get home and get the dress clothes I brought over here, I'm going to walk back downtown in a bit and scavenge for food. No worries!

We're leaving for Hungary first thing on Saturday. I'm not sure exactly what the schedule will be for the European Leadership Forum. (They tell us we'll find out when we get there.) The conference is in Eger, Hungary. And Ian said that Wednesday afternoon of the conference is pretty light. So he recommended that we take the Wednesday afternoon and travel back down to Budapest. Since we aren't scheduled to head back to Oxford until Thursday evening, we could spend about 24 hours tromping around the city. I'm working on putting together a cadre of us to do it. (I just wish I'd talked to Uncle Andy before I came over. With his being Hungarian, he could give me the inside scoop. It would have been interesting to find out which of the concentration camps he escaped from and other points of interest. Aaah well, we'll figure it all out.)

It sounds like things are going well on your end. I'm so glad to hear it. Sorry that only you and your parents were at the Wednesday night bible study class. You're right, I do know the feeling of having prepared and coming to find a very small group to teach. Hang in there. The key is faithfulness, regardless of the outcome. I would agree with your plan--come next week if no one shows, call it a series. :)

Thank you very much for keeping me updated on what's been happening on the home front. It really helps me feel like I can stay connected even a little bit with all that's happening. I so wish I had been able to go to Caleb's graduation. Please tell him how proud I am of him. And thank him and Andrew for the Spiderman and Larry Boy e-cards they sent me. I got them during one of my lectures yesterday, and I don't have any idea what the lecturer was saying after that. :)

I'll definitely try to give you all a call on Friday night, since my communication with you may be sketchy while I'm in Hungary. Some of the guys have I-phones, so I'll see if I can borrow one if possible. Hopefully, I can figure something out.

I love you very much. I think of you all every day and pray for you. Please give the boys BIG hugs from me and tell them how much I love and miss them.

All for now,

John

Well, I'm off to catch the bus yet again. Cheers to one and all!

Reminiscing about my Death March

Today was the annual Mini-Marathon here in Indy, the 13.1 mile half-marathon. As you may recall, it was last year at this time that I managed to stagger across the finish line after my own version of this death march. I was glad to watch it on TV this year. (Not sure if they've determined the winner yet, as it was a photo finish.)

For a good laugh, go back and read through the previous posts where I was chronicling my journey towards death. I find myself torn between laughing and cringing as the sheer lunacy of it all.

May 2, 2007: "The mini-marathon is looming"

May 2, 2007: "Run, fool, run"

May 4, 2007: "My final TDD post...?"

May 5, 2007: "Reflections from a rookie mini-marathoner"

Cheers to any of you who subjected yourselves to this sadomasochism. You have my empathy and profound respect! (Now if I can just get my sorry behind out of this chair and over to the gym. :)