This time of year, folks in our part of the world are mesmerized by college basketball. To admit that one does not share this passion is something akin to heresy. In all honesty, though, that is the case for me. I realize that I am risking my credibility to acknowledge this fact (particularly as a UNC grad), but even though I don’t really follow the game, I do understand the appeal.
There is something else that
I have been following closely, though.
There is another drama that is unfolding this month in North Carolina,
and I have been enthusiastically watching and cheering from the sidelines as I
hope for a big “win” for a cause that is dear to me.
This month my friend, David Lamotte, launched a campaign through Kickstarter.com to raise funds to publish
“White Flour”, a children’s book that he has written. This isn’t just any children’s book. “White Flour” tells the true story, in a
poetic style, of an amazing event that took place in Knoxville, Tennessee
nearly five years ago. There, on a
beautiful spring day, a group of clowns successfully derailed a white
supremacist rally. Through humor
and nonviolence, they completely changed the dynamic and the course of what
unfolded in their city that day.
The story captivated David,
who, in addition to being a talented singer/songwriter is also a tireless
advocate for peace and justice. He
knew that the story needed to be heard.
In a society still troubled by racism and bullying, this story provided
a hopeful model of a healthy way to address conflict. David turned the story into a poem, and now is fulfilling
his vision to have it turned into a book.
When David first launched
his initial campaign on Kickstarter, it only took twelve days for project
supporters to blow past the initial goal.
The response was so enthusiastic that he decided to expand his
vision. At considerable personal
risk, David decided to order ten thousand additional books and continue the
campaign until the original end date of April 1st. All along the way, he has shared his excitement and occasionally
his concerns with us. By “living
out loud”, he has allowed others to take this journey with him. His faith, commitment, and courage have
allowed everyone supporting this project to play a much bigger game.
What is it about people like
David (and maybe even basketball players) that capture our attention and
imagination? For me, it boils down
to this: we are touched and inspired by people who use their talents in support
of something larger than themselves. Such people seem especially vital and “real” to us because
they are being their most authentic selves. When we see people using their gifts in a way that is
consistent with their vision and values, we are inspired because we get a
glimpse of something that is possible for each of us, too. I call it flourishing.
As a coach, the possibility
of a life that flourishes is something that I wish for everyone. I believe that each of us has unique
gifts, and that when we are being our most vital selves, we are able to fully
offer our gifts to the world. In
other words, when our lives flourish, everyone benefits.
Years ago, I attended one of
David’s concerts and I bought a T-shirt there. The T-shirt is so baggy and shapeless on me that one might
wonder why I keep it. What attracts
me isn’t the T-shirt itself, but rather the message written across its front: “Sing Loud. It’s a big world.” That phrase reminds me that only I can know my “song”,
and only I can sing it.
What is your song? What vision and gifts do you have to
share with the world? What is
possible when you flourish?
If you are caught up in the
midst of “March Madness”, I invite you to take a break from basketball and tune
in to the game that I’m watching.
Below is a video of David reading his poem, “White Flour”. If you love it as much as I do, I hope
you’ll consider supporting the book launch and will share your excitement with
others. I’m grateful to David for
allowing others to participate in his vision. May we all be inspired to “Sing Loud!”
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