I saw this book at the library in Otis Orchards, Washington while I was there for American Thanksgiving. I knew immediately it was a book I would enjoy. It's a true story, it's about Washingtonians, it's about a sport, and it includes the Olympics. It also is history, which I love. What I couldn't have known was the way it would open my eyes to change that will help in my life.
The author has a talent for weaving the sport of rowing with the lives of the men and the current political and economic situation of those years; the good times of the 1920s, the devastation of the Great Depression, the dust bowl era, widespread poverty, the rise of Adolf Hitler, World War II.
A time period that those of us who didn't live through will never fully understand. We are so incredibly blessed to live now and to live in a free North American country, that is peaceful, prosperous, and we don't know what it means to be hungry or cold.
Some thoughts as I read the book:
-"Where is the spiritual value of rowing?...The losing of self entirely to the cooperative effort of the crew as a whole." This a true life principle, one that can and should be applied to family life, to life in the human family, to any group effort. Each of us has a part to play in our families, our friendships, our ward families, our communities, our work places.
-exercising faith in our "team" takes trust, believing that our team members will help us when we fall short. Most importantly we can trust the savior will ALWAYS have our back and will always make up for what we lack.
-strong relationships are so important to our souls as human beings. We really can't successfully live without them. Choose and work at creating good and positive relationships. It takes a lot of continual training and effort.
