I was watching one of my usual annual movies, Radio.
Radio is the story of a high school football coach and the developmentally challenged man he took under his wing.
Cuba Gooding Jr plays the real life handicapped man, nicknamed Radio.
He was bullied by football players and the coach caught them, punished them, and embraced Radio.
Against the wishes of a lot of the community and powerful city leaders,
He encouraged Radio
He supported Radio
He gave Radio the opportunity to be the team ball boy
He helped get Radio enrolled in high school as an honorary graduate and permanent student
And Radio continued with that school and the team through his adult life.
Even in his 50s, Radio was still leading the team onto the field.
As the Coach put in when the community leaders wanted to get rid of Radio, the Coach got real. He said:
We aren’t the one that’s been teaching Radio.
Radio is the one teaching all of us.
Because they way Radio treats us all the time,
Is the way we wish people treated us part of the time.
-So Radio taught Coach what really mattered in life.
Each other.
It harkens me back to my own son Ronnie.
Challenged with Turette’s and ADHD through his young life,
He was ridiculed, felt embarrassed, worthless, and more.
I cried myself many a night wanting to protect him and feeling helpless.
In the end, I realized the same thing the coach did.
My son Ronnie was the one teaching me all my life.
He’s the most courageous person I know, and always will be.
How he goes after life despite obstacles.
It isn’t easy for him and never will.
To Ronnie, that’s okay.
And he’s such a great young adult now.
My challenge to you this week is to seek out those around you who others lookdown upon.
Don’t prejudge them.
Instead, get to know them.
Talk to them and discover their brilliance.
We all have it.
It’s just very few people take the time to discover that in others,
especially those who aren’t perceived as the cream of the crop.
And when you do, support them and encourage them.
And watch how they teach you, more than you ever support them.
And this world becomes a far more understanding and human place.
And I’ll see YOU at the next 2MMM
