The three Abrahamic religions share the story of Jacobs wonderful dream (Genesis 28). As Desmond Tutu tells it in his Children of God Storybook Bible, following a fight with his brother Esau, Jacob fled into the desert to hide. One night, as he slept, he dreamed of a ladder reaching to the sky with angels going up and down. Then God stood beside him and said, I will be with you and protect you and keep you safe. When Jacob woke up, he realized God is in this place, and I did not know it. So he took a stone and blessed it with oil and said, This is Beth El, the house of God and the gate to heaven.
My adult son David, who is intellectually disabled, has played Special Olympics sports for fifteen years. Basketball, softball, on occasion track and field or bocce ball, most recently volleyball. I have attended more practices, games and tournamentslocal, regional and state-widethan I can count.
Over the years I have experienced Special Olympics as Beth Elthe house of God. Like Jacob, I see God in this placewhich I did not initially expect.
Many people have heard of an incident that happened at a 1976 track-and-field event in Spokane, Washington. A Special Olympics contestant stumbled and fell during the 100-yard dash, and one or two other athletes turned back. They helped the runner to his feet and walked across the finish line together. I regularly see similar moments of grace at Special Olympics events.
The basketball game is nearly done. One player, severely autistic, runs up and down the court at random or stands alone stimming. All the other players are actively involved in shooting, passing and dribblingexcept one. Then his team gets the ball, and the woman holding it stops the game. Approaching the young man, she calls Michael, come and play. Taking him by the hand, she leads him to the basket, places the ball in his hands and urges him to shoot. He does. Both teams and the crowd of parents go wild with applause and cheersand tears. This is a holy momentBeth El, Gods Kingdom of inclusive love is in this place.
Its the opening ceremonies for the statewide Special Olympics basketball tournament. A disabled athlete enters the darkened arena carrying the torchshe is circled by five uniformed police officers who run with her. The torch is passed to other runners, but the officers stay close by, accompanying them around the perimeter to the lighting of the flame. I wipe away tears and contemplate the Special Olympics logo, depicting five figures in a unifying circle. I am seeing the reality of how the world is meant to be: the weakest and most vulnerable surrounded and assisted by the strongest and most powerful. Beth El on a Friday night in Bloomington, Illinois.
David is up to bat. Truth be told, hes one of the poorer players with an uneven batting record. Then Nate walks up to the chain-link fence behind home plate. Hes one of the best players, often delivering home runs. The contrast between Nate and David is striking, but there he is cheering David on. Hey man, you can do it! he shouts. The ball is low, but David swings and misses. Rats! Nate is undeterred: Watch for your pitch! he encourages. You can do it. This is, once again, Beth El.
The difference between proficiency and deficiency evaporatesthere are simply two team members, two equal persons, two fellow human beings, two friends. A snatch of scripture floats through my mind: there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
The next ball is in the strike zone: David hits it square, drops his bat and makes it to first. Yay!
Many Special Olympics events take place on Sunday mornings, making them for me a particularly poignant experience of koinoniacommunion, sharing, fellowship. At competitions there is very little us-versus-them animosity. Of course we hope our team wins, but each side cheers the successes of the rival team and laments with good try when things go wrong. Athletes, parents and family, coaches and refereeswere one community, all in this together.
This is Gods Dream, Desmond Tutu says: God dreams about people sharing. God dreams about people caring. God dreams that we reach out and hold one anothers hands and play one anothers games and laugh with one anothers hearts. God dreams that everyone of us will see that we are all brothers and sisters. We are family because we are all Gods children.
This is the Beth El blessing I receive so often at Special Olympics. Its also the Beth El challengeto show Gods faithful love to everyone, without exception.
We are made for the togetherness which Special Olympics exemplifies. Its Beth El, a parable of ubi caritaswhere true love is, God is there.
Read the original here:
Special Olympics as Beth-el - The Reformed Journal Blog - Reformed Journal
- The weight of gold - Anna Kiesenhofer on managing expectations after Tokyo Olympics shock victory - Cyclingnews - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Climate Crisis Forces the IOC to Rethink Winter Olympics - Greek Reporter - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Macron: "If there are security problems, the inauguration could be reconsidered" - Insidethegames.biz - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Its not only the Olympics that could be coming to Utah in 2034 - Deseret News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Jesse Mendes Says He Wont Pursue Olympics After Switching From Brazil to Italy - The Inertia - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- British teen Sky Brown targets medals in two sports at Paris Olympics - The Telegraph - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- From Stanford to Team USA, a water polo dynasty eyes an Olympic four-peat - The Athletic - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- 'Boys in the Boat' gives Hollywood treatment to rowing during an Olympic year - Denver 7 Colorado News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- USSS Nominates Stellar Teams for 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games in Gangwon, South Korea - SkiRacing.com - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Mohamad Aniq chasing fourth ranking in Olympic qualification for Paris - theSun - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Olympic Hurdler Michelle Jenneke Brought the Vibes to Las Vegas - Yahoo Life - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- France could move Paris Olympics opening ceremony over security concerns - The Hill - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Aaron Picos unknown Bellator-PFL future has him thinking Olympics - MMA Junkie - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Paris 2024: Will they regret it? >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News - Scuttlebutt Sailing News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Winter Olympics 2034: Blocks of Park City-area hotel rooms already essentially booked - The Park Record - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- 'Freezin' for a Reason': Special Olympics Polar Plunge to return to Buckhannon in February 2024 - My Buckhannon - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- How Suni Lee Refused to Let "Really Scary" Kidney Illness Stop Her From Returning For the 2024 Olympics - E! Online - E! NEWS - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Exclusive: Special Olympics New York calls on Hochul to increase funding ahead of program cuts - WXXI News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Sunisa Lee: Can USA Gymnastics have its own 'Dream Team' at Paris 2024? - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Olympics 2024: Event rider Ros Canter aiming for glory in Paris - BBC.com - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Jamaica's surf healer Imani Wilmot taps into ocean forces to empower women - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Usain Bolt: My 200m world record will be broken before 100m - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- USA Basketball womens and mens 33 programs qualify for 2024 Olympics - The Athletic - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- IOC says its Olympic ban on Russia cannot be compared with Israel situation - Japan Today - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Diosdado and Jimnez win gold and secure their spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics - Insidethegames.biz - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- LeBron James and Anthony Davis should forget about the 2024 Olympics - LeBron Wire - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- What could Team USA look like at the 2024 Olympics? - Hoops Hype - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Team USA: LeBron James' Olympics recruitment has fans going wild - ClutchPoints - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Gay rower Robbie Manson just qualified for the Olympics while still updating his OnlyFans page - Queerty - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- LeBron James Recruiting Stars To Play In Paris Olympics - RealGM.com - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Roundup: Mel Tucker Responds to Allegations; LeBron Wants to Play in the 2024 Olympics; Aaron Rodgers Injured - The Big Lead - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Episcopal Academy graduate Ashley Sessa has her sights set on the Olympics - The Philadelphia Inquirer - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Thompson: To rule the Olympics, Team USA needs to call in The Avengers - The Athletic - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- LeBron James to Lead Superstar Roster for the 2024 Olympics - Yahoo Life - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- LeBron James reportedly wants to play in one more Olympics, and he's already recruiting - Yahoo Sports - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- USA Basketball: LeBron James leads projected roster for 2024 Olympics - For The Win - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- LeBron James, Stephen Curry favorites to play for Team USA in 2024 Olympics - ClutchPoints - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Watch Peyton Manning Prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics with a ... - PEOPLE - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Exclusive - Olympic champion Janja Garnbret speaks out on eating ... - Olympics - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- What Could The USWNT Look Like At The 2024 Summer Olympics? - UPROXX - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Don't Miss the UP Pasty Olympics in Calumet! - Awesome Mitten - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Water quality concerns halt Paris Olympics swimming test in the Seine - TheJournal.ie - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Paris Olympics swimming test event cancelled over water quality fears - Yahoo News UK - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- John Devitt, Champion Swimmer With a Tarnished Gold Medal, Dies at 86 - The New York Times - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Expect a lot of players from this year's Team USA to be back for Paris Olympics - Yahoo Sports - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Emotions run high as Morgan Pearson ends 'whirlwind day' with a place at Paris Olympics - TRI247 - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- On This Day, 2008: Rafael Nadal captures gold medal at Beijing Olympics - Tennis Magazine - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- India Ends Olympics Pre-Qualifying Campaign with loss to Bahrain - Ekalavyas - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Olympic Triathlon Test Event: A huge success for athletes, a boost of ... - Olympics - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Paris Olympics swimming test event cancelled over water quality fears - Euronews - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Gender inequality will still be an issue at the Paris 2024 Olympics ... - The Conversation Indonesia - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Grant Holloway exclusive: On 'running free' at Budapest 2023 and ... - Olympics - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Minnesota Sports and Events has major announcement next week - Star Tribune - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- IOC call IBA's bluff over future without Olympics, but boxing on LA28 programme - Insidethegames.biz - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Garden Theatre gets new leaders with Disney, Olympics experience - Orlando Sentinel - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Cone frank about Gilas' World Cup chances, says goal is to qualify for Paris Olympics - Rappler - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- 2028 Summer Olympics could be coming to OKC Riversport, decision coming soon - City-sentinel - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Gay Olympic Rower Robbie Manson Joins OnlyFans - Star Observer - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Olympic-quality athletics arrives one year early in Paris - AW - Athletics Weekly - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Day for champions: Hundreds cheer on Special Olympics at SUNY - Evening Observer - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- IOC Coordination Commission chair says Paris 2024 will stage new Olympics - Insidethegames.biz - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- TCU baseball fans donated more than $23k to Special Olympics Indiana - For The Win - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- University of Minnesota Athletics - GopherSports.com - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Paris 2024 Olympic Headquarters Stormed By French Pension Protesters - SwimSwam - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Special Olympics 2023 'Flame of Hope' Lit in Athens - Greek Reporter - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Olympic Gymnasts Jordyn Wieber & Chris Brooks Tie the Knot in Arkansas Wedding - Just Jared Jr. - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- 2023 NYS Special Olympics Games This Weekend In Ithaca And Vestal - wnbf.com - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Local Special Olympics Athletes Set to Ignite the Summer Games - Eagle 99.3 FM WSCH - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Washington Co. deputy to carry the torch in 2023 Special Olympic World Games - KARE11.com - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Missing the Captain Kyle Busch - Fans Demand Exclusion of Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson in NASCAR ... - The Sportsrush - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Special Olympics Delaware moving forward with Summer Games ... - 1150AM/101.7FM WDEL - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- "If I Make the Olympics, I'll Retire at the Olympics." Surf Legend Kelly Slater Will Be ... - Latest Tweet - LatestLY - February 24th, 2023 [February 24th, 2023]
- The US should insist that Russian and Belarusian athletes be banned from the 2024 Olympics - The Hill - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- Belarus coach who removed sprinter from Olympics charged - January 22nd, 2023 [January 22nd, 2023]
- Milano Cortina 2026: Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - January 22nd, 2023 [January 22nd, 2023]
- 6 individuals from the Carolinas to participate in Special Olympics World Games in Berlin - WCNC.com - January 22nd, 2023 [January 22nd, 2023]
- Olympic Games | History, Locations, & Winners | Britannica - January 19th, 2023 [January 19th, 2023]
- Im Still in Therapy: Simone Biles Breaks Silence on Paris Olympics Appearance - EssentiallySports - January 19th, 2023 [January 19th, 2023]
- Course work on campus | The Culinary Olympics return to UConn - FOX61 Hartford - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Germany May Go After An Olympics That Could Coincide With The 100th Anniversary Of The Hitler Games - Sports Talk Florida - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]