Like many Americans, I have been glued to the news because there has been so much news to be glued to — so many developments that feel urgent and important. As we practice democracy, we necessarily face the shadow side and devote ourselves to the sometimes exhausting work of peace, justice, and compassion.

And sometimes, we become so glued to our commitments that we forget to play.

We need to play, and the Olympics are here, just in time! They began in Paris last Friday, July 26, and continue to Sunday, August 11, 2024.

What a wonderful opportunity to take a break from politics and become absorbed in contests filled with enthusiasm, zeal, and the thrill of the quest!

Phil Cousineau captured what really animates the Games in his book The Olympic Odyssey: Rekindling the True Spirit of the Great Games: "It is in fact the miraculous force that animates all great art as well as great athletes. Call it spirit, the divine spark, the breath of life — it is the transcendent element that lifts us up when we're down and out, the source of courage, and the soul of inspiration.”

We encourage you to find a great story in these Olympics and follow its protagonists, root for their courage, and find inspiration in their success, no matter how it is measured.

The story I plan to follow is that of boxer Cindy Ngamba. I have very little interest in boxing, but there’s so much about Ngamba’s story that I want to see draped in gold.

She is one of the 37 members of the Olympic Refugees Team. She does not have a British passport and so is not a citizen, but she also cannot return to Cameroon because she is gay, which is a criminal offense in her native country.

She carries with her into the ring the struggles, hopes, and dreams of displaced persons worldwide, and in her fight for gold, I see the fight of all those who are stuck between worlds, between an old home and a new one.

What a thrill it would be to see her find a place on the podium.

Find your hero, your story, your sport, and give yourself over to joy, inspiration, and awe!

If you want to use the Games to practice more than play, consult Watching the Olympics as a Spiritual Practice by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat.

Celebrate the Games even when the athletes in France are sleeping by watching an Olympic-themed film such as Runner, Chariots of Fire, Personal Best, The Boys in the Boat, The Swimmers, or Miracle.

When you’re not watching the action, enjoy more of Cousineau’s reflections on the Games by reading this interview.