The Power of One

Watching the Olympic competitions presently underway in England, one observes the performances of awesome, world class athletes in competition with the best of the best. Whether in an individual or team sport, the winning participants often reach their goals measured in tenths or thousands of a second. These athletes draw on resources accessible to them from their extensive training, from their sacrifices and commitment to their sport, and from skills acquired through intensive training. Their performances are built on skills perfected over time to the point where excelling is natural, even taken for granted. They have acquired an exceptional power individually or as a member of a team.

A few days ago, we saw an extraordinary example of the power that individuals can have under the most horrendous of conditions. People across the country and around the world, watched newscasters recount the details of horrendous carnage that was perpetrated during a premier showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colorado. The media pounced on this killing field for days recording and presenting the “story” from every accessible angle. However, what emerged, from at least some of these televised reports, was not only the detailing of the acts of the lone gunman, but also the reports of the awesome, heroic and powerful life-saving services rendered by some of these “Batman” movie fans. From this one incident many viewers were reminded of the “power of One.” From where does the courage arise to respond and do such brave deeds with such selfless disregard for themselves? Do we as average men and women of God have the same capacity to excel?

Whether it be the commitment of an Olympic athlete to their sport or of innocent individuals to the needs of others, even total strangers, there is a force for good in all of us. This force can be accessed through the power of grace, a gift of God that motivates us. In a recent Mass celebrated during his installation as Archbishop of Baltimore, William Lord suggested that “we should remind ourselves that [our power for good] comes from God… [and that the Word of God [Jesus Christ] should “shape how we think, what we believe, how we worship, [and] what decisions we make.”

St. Andrew, brother to St. Peter, exemplifies this in the Gospel of St. John (6:8-14). Having been called by the Lord and spending time being formed by Jesus, it was totally within character that St. Andrew responded in faith in the feeding of a very large crowd “of five thousand” gathered on a grassy mountain side. While St. Andrew may not have known it at the time, he had been well prepared by his openness to the Lord, such that he believed with full trust and confidence that the Lord would provide for the multitude, even though there were “only five barley loaves and two fish.” Working with the faith of St. Andrew Jesus worked a miracle; “Have the people recline…. And He gave thanks and distributed… as much as they wanted.”

The same power is available to each of us who walk in trust with the Lord. “Ask and you will receive.” Taking whatever limitations we may have, the Lord, as He did in the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, can take our weaknesses and limitations, no matter what they are, and give us a power to overcome all obstacles.

Our goals may be far simpler than that of an Olympic athlete, and we may never find ourselves in the situation of such unspeakable horror as was experienced in Aurora, Colorado. However, if we are prepared by faith and pray that the Lord’s will be done; Jesus will hear us and respond. He will give us the strength; we too can experience “the power of One.”

Mr. Paul McKeough
Baton Rouge, LA