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Most sermons only reach the ears of the proverbial choir, as those not in the choir either don’t attend or don’t want to hear it. I’ve been privileged to serve as honorary national co-chair of Black Women for Positive Change. We held a program a few years ago entitled “It Starts at the Kitchen Table”, the essence being that the attitudes that we have as adults are formed by our parents in our early years. The unanswered question is: How do we get to the kitchen tables of those who need it most? It is related to a comparable question: How do we effectively preach to those not in the choir? The choir might be too late; the kitchen table is the right time. It is far harder, yet not impossible, to transform the hearts of adults. I have witnessed such, so I know what is possible. Moments such as our Grounbreaking Ceremony symbolized that we can unite for a common purpose.  I witnessed another such example this weekend: the US Olympic Team tryouts.

While I was unable to watch all of the coverage, what I was able to watch was just remarkable. The skill sets of track and field athletes, gymnasts and swimmers were just incredible. While it might not be sufficient for those who were not chosen to represent the United States at the Paris Summer Olympics, which begin this coming July 26, I hope that the disappointment in not being selected can be tempered with the fact that everyone competing had qualified to compete, and that is something to be very proud of.

I had the good fortune to watch some of the women’s gymnastics, and the performances were beyond words. While much pressure is upon Simone Biles to win the all-around medal (search for her name if you don’t know it), the fact that she qualified for her third consecutive Summer Olympics, and that if I understand correctly, she is the first woman to do so, tells me that we are privileged to watch a once-in-a-lifetime athlete. She has created moves that no one else has ever accomplished, leaving you with your mouth open in awe. But that was only part of the story for me.

The response of the SRO crowd in Minneapolis was so uplifting.  They loudly cheered for every athlete, and as each woman completed her final apparatus, she received a standing ovation. I was cheering from my living room. Then I thought to myself, this crowd has much that it taught America. The color of your skin, your religion or sexual orientation was irrelevant. You were a young woman doing your personal best to represent your country, and the audience could not have been more supportive of their efforts. There were no politics, no protests, no signs other than ones held by family or friends of particular athletes. The crowd modeled for all of us how to behave in public. There was no booing or insults. Despite competing for five team slots, each woman hugged each other after completing their turn in a beautiful showing of respect, mutual support, teamwork and and camaraderie. This was a lesson for all of America.

We are capable of working together for the common good. I’ve seen it in the aftermath of 9/11 and, alas, 10/27. I’ve witnessed the best in humanity after the worst in humanity. Sadly, we continue to see too much of the worst.  If only those who are not in the choir would be able to learn from the behavior of the crowd at the US Olympic Gymnastics Team tryouts what appropriate behavior is, and that modeling it is not only in their best interests, but that of America. As Senator Alan Simpson said at the funeral of former President George H. W. Bush, “H corrodes from the inside”. I saw the cure to this corrosion during these Olympic trials. I wonder if those not in the choir got it?