First place is not enough

What happens when first place is not the true measure of victory?  Now, before you get all bent out of shape about this point, think about it. First place is the easy way to define winning. The story of Derek Redmond being helped to complete his 400m race in the semifinals of the 1992 Olympic games, by his father running out of the stands, is still one of the most amazing images of triumph ever recorded.   Winning produces narratives, forms legacies, evokes faith, and stirs souls. The distortion of what winning is can have devastating results. 

Winning has not lost its attraction; it is still the primary reason we do something. The enthusiasm that is generated by winning is contagious. The inspiration winning provides can stimulate creativity and growth. Winning can be an opulent expression of the relief that comes as the result of completing a task. The power to unify that comes from winning can make enemies turn into friends.  

The passionate pursuit of winning is as defining as the accomplishment of it. World record, Olympic record, meet record, national record, personal best. All of these can be viewed through the lens of winning. The work that is necessary to be in position to win is often overlooked as something to celebrate. How we do the work to win matters. 

Winning changes people. The way we view ourself is elevated or diminished by it. The pride we express in our own families, teams, schools, communities, nations, and the world reflect do we see them as winners. Gideon, in the Bible, did not see himself, or his family, as having a winning track record but his God still saw winning in him. Sometimes it takes others seeing us as winning to feel better about our position.

When winning becomes the only thing that matters, trouble begins. The pursuit of ways to gain a competitive advantage becomes rampant. Having others agree with your misguided approach by getting them to agree to the ends, without understanding the means, or ways, to accomplish it is simply manipulation rather than motivational. This is usually followed by a barrage of people speaking out to drown out the truth. Winning at any, or all, cost is not winning at all.

Winning produces narratives that can shape the future. It forms legacies that impact generations of those who follow the story. The faith in the power of participation is evoked and moves people to be involved. Winning stirs the souls of people to be a part of something bigger than themself. 

As we continue to struggle, as a society, with change, let us not grow weary in doing things good and in the right way so that the winning that we experience will not be turned into defeat later.