I was warmed in reading several articles about Calvin Borel in 2009. That year he suddenly became a bona fide celebrity in the sports world for the season. Borel, 42 years of age, from a small community in Louisiana, came from a poor Cajun home, and had almost no formal education. In middle age, he asked a friend, an elementary school teacher, to teach him how to read and write, and carry on a conversation. He, at 41 years of age, became, at least for a short season, the most famous jockey in the world. At his request, he was awarded the mount for the Kentucky Derby, a filly named Mine That Bird – a 50 to 1 shot to win. The female (filly) was running against a strong field of male stallions. The horse ran from last place to win the Derby. Borel took a pass on this winner, his own, for another filly, Rachel Alexandra, for the Preakness – the second race of the Triple Crown of Horse Racing. Such a switch had never been done before. He won again. The stories about this poorly educated jockey, who became the leading rider of his year, were ascribed to hard work, commitment to know and adapt to the horses he rides, and a mystical ability about his work. This last, the mystical ability, loses much of its mystery when one follows through the regimen and attention given by Borel to his personal and beloved occupation. It explains genius for many persons in any field. Small in stature, low in weight, Borel did not choose to be a football or basketball player. Without education he would not choose scholarship or engineering. He was sharp enough to relate to those who could help him (a developed network), especially from his own family, and relate to the realities of his own context for life. It gave him genuineness, afforded a degree of wealth, and respect from those who related to his life interests and work. He had become humble to truth about his life.
Sensing potential for life fulfillment and a rightful level of success in about 70% (a guess figure) of the students I have known in my lifetime, I am sometimes disappointed in the somewhat casual approach some have toward the gifts and graces that have been afforded them. About 15% of the population is driven by negative emotions, interests, influences, and distortions so that education, nurture, opportunity, values will not appear for sufficiently meaningful constructive purposes in their lives. Some of these will end up in jail, will not hold jobs, and will break vows of family, human fraternity and faith. Few collegians fall into this ultimate failure, but some drop out, and find excuse to retreat from life duty. They refuse effort to rise to life challenges, so sink into a kind of emptiness, and a few turn to rebellion or strangeness.
At one end of the continuum there will be about 15 % of the population so gifted in this or that factor, or factors, of life that they appear to be blessed by whatever powers that be that grant blessing. They need little help to get on, and get on well as the world measures success and achievement. That leaves the massive 70 % of the population (commoners by the numbers) to make their way, with some persons closer to one end of the continuum and others closer to the opposite end. With increasing effectiveness, and integrity, sociologists are getting closer to identifying these persons early in their lives. One is unsure what will be done with the information. (We seem helpless with the 15% at the negative end of things.)
I received the story of a high school girl who had a leg amputation. Before the decision for surgery was carried through, she was permitted to play her last basketball game with her high school team. It was difficult but she gave it all she had. At this writing she is practicing swimming drills and hopes to become skillful enough to compete in college. I wouldn’t bet against her. What is a life taken by celebrity, by promises of chance, by evasion of work and duty, and search for excitement or temptation for material gain? What is the benefit of sometimes jealousy of the highly gifted, the privileged, and fully armed persons? Some of these will waste their talents, and some will be good stewards of gifts and opportunities. They will make their way and receive high praise – Well Done. Under God each person will be evaluated on the application of whatever is given of God, and on principles for faithful lives. With humility, service and application the Christian finds God’s will. Faithfulness is success. (Luke 16:10)
*Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020