Fourth of July Against All Odds

Ben Franklin, in a response to a citizen in 1787, was asked what he thought was the best form of government. He responded with a phrase that is at the heart of July 4^th. He said, “A Republic if you can keep it.” He indicated that it requires an active citizenship and an educated populace. A Republic exists against all odds when people think that it will always be there, but it won’t unless we are vigilant and watchful because it exists against all odds.

Recently I have been reflecting about different forms of against all odds including lives of people, addresses, and film. To begin, watch Barack Obama’s address at the Dedication of His Presidential Library in South Chicago.

One of my former students, Matt Freese, is the goalie for the American Soccer Team. He was a member of the Vestry at EA, the student spiritual leadership group who are elected by the Upper School students and faculty to work with me. For three years I spent lunches with Matt and this group during lunch period where I was the coach and they were the players. Even then I knew of Matt’s passion and leadership skills along with his strong moral fiber. His journey from EA to the goalie in the World Cup would make a great movie as his life embodied hard work, grit, and a commitment to excellence. He is a perfect candidate for achieving against all odds.

Last night I watched Pele which was a documentary of the life of Pele who is regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time. He began his life in the poor section of a town where he shined shoes to assist his parents in making their ends meet. His father, who only went to third grade, was the person who first taught him soccer. Pele still has that shoeshine box he used as a lad to shine the shoes of anyone who needed his services.

I knew something of his extraordinary soccer exploits, but I didn’t know that he was a hero in the political happenings in his native country. Brazil’s collective emotional life literally rose or fell based on the wins or losses of their soccer team. He assisted the people in their challenges when a dictator was elected after a revolution. Pele’s name was known throughout the world.

One of my former students was a football player under coach Lou Holtz who is most often associated with Notre Dame. In speeches Holtz gets his points across through humor and speaking about where he started. He said that “he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He grew up Fallanskee, West Virginia. For seven years his home had one bathroom with no tub or shower and one bedroom, but that is where he learned about the ingredients for overcoming hard times.” His ingredients are “have something to do that has purpose or passion; someone to love; something to hope for; something to believe in such as faith, or a trusted mentor.”

It is not uncommon for our alumni to come back and see me to reflect on their college experience. One of my former students, Fran Person, was a member of the University of South Carolina Football Team coached by Lou Holtz. Holtz was an important mentor in Fran’s life. Fran asked if we (student vestry) and me could have him speak in chapel. I told Fran that if he could arrange it, I will arrange it on our end. Holtz made it against all odds.

Brian Dougherty who was one of my advisees at EA. He didn’t have much in monetary value but his father and mother were sports figures who supported him in every way. When he came back to see me, I asked him, “What do I need to know to tell a student athlete what he or she needs to know as an athlete at a bigtime university?” He said, “Tell them they will do sports fulltime and academics on the side.” Brian became one of the best lacrosse goalies in the world.

If you are wondering why a statue of Rocky sits at the top of the museum steps in Philly, Rocky is the prototype for making it against all odds. We are all enamored by those people and how to get there.

And then there is me. If you read my memoir, The Times of My Life, you will see why against all odds was a challenge for me. My father had a sixth-grade education. I worked to help the family in mills after he had a crippling stroke, and the Monday after I graduated from college, I worked in the Nyce Bar Bearing Plant before going to Berkeley at Yale and Duke University and Duke University Medical Center. I always include my working-class background in my bio.

But what you don’t know is why I wrote the memoir. I was standing on the deck of my beach front home on the Chesapeake which sits on top of a bluff looking out at a sunset that would take your breath away. Gathered on the deck were a group of cancer research people who worked with my wife, Vicki. One of her colleagues asked while looking out at the Bay, who knew where I was born and raised and looked me in the eye and said, “I have a question. How did you go from there to here?” I couldn’t answer her question. The memoir helped me find the answer of making it against all odds and why that possibility is a powerful fuel to a dream.

I have parents who bring their children to come see me and indicate, “Robert, I want you to be like the Rev. My response is always “Robert, I don’t want you to be like me. I want you to be the best version of you.”  That is our school motto, “Esse Quam Videri, to be and not to seem to be.” Be authentic!