SPORT: BUILDING TRUST, FRIENDSHIP, AND COMMITMENT {A TRUE STORY}

I have never been free with other youths before, despite the formal meeting I had at youth sessions organized by our church, at most, my communication ends with a hand shake, and the latter, a by-gone Story. Each gathering gave me the opportunity to connect with people, share ideas and argue about Proactive topics related to youth issues; especially dating. But I never gained anything worthwhile because I talked or debated on youth topics when asked to, and if not, I remained still. The youth revival sessions was fun, but the grand opening at the headquarter was the most massive; because youths from different backgrounds and church groups across the nation  came to sing, pray and share relevant ideas with other youth groups. There were music competitions, a'cappella groups with their angelic voices, and the cultural dance groups whose feet sway to the rhythm of tattoo talking drums; creatively, displaying the uniqueness of religion and Christianity. Indeed, heaven fell. At the grand opening, I stayed away from other youths, like a black moth in the midst of white butterflies, because I didn't know how to connect with them. I have been to a gathering, a youth convention, a praise night, etc., but I have never seen a congregation where each person from a different background interacted with his neighbor as if they had been friends for a long time. The flying ants buzzing around white glowing bulbs made me busy with my thoughts; while from the altar, a tall dark-skinned boy, perhaps a youth, sang Amazing grace, and tiny beads of tears rolled down my eyes for no just cause. At that hour, my heart started talking to me, like a man's thoughts at dawn, slowly beating the Nunc Dimittis. I could only hear the faint sounds of mumbled songs, and the erratic strokes of bass guitars and table pianos; only my inner self felt this miracle ; I was anew again. It was 6:00pm, and the sonorous sounds from the guitars and drums had diluted into the atmosphere, and youth leaders from different regions declared a call-up for all youth members in their chapter. I refused to attend to mine; I could not tell why I did. I guess the closing hymn made me linger a little. My thoughts scurried on the night before the service, the things I did afore, and how I managed to get here. My dad couldn't afford my transport fare, so a friend gave me a tip. I could remember how boring and humiliating the journey was. At 6:35pm, I had decided to ride along, perhaps, be akin to other folks who saw me as different, as I them. The bus had just warmed up and the youth leader, the pastor, and other youth members walked in gracefully like men heading to a war zone. It was Sunday again; the church was well dressed, choirs in their orange tinted aprons; the pastor in his charcoal-gray suit and brown polished shoes, walked down the aisle smiling; while the mother of the house--as the Catholics would call a nun,  blessed the morning with her dazzling Mazarine. The service began smoothly: from a brief sermon, to prayers, and finally a closing theme. The chairs were being arranged, while the church-cleaners came in to keep the auditorium neat. I had barely left the church before the youth leader announced a sport competition organized by the region. It was a program created to connect youths together, and a platform for different age groups to know what matters to them most by coming together to share profound ideas on educative topics through sport. We didn't actually commit ourselves to a great deal of practice, because time was unfriendly, and most of the youths never showed up. The final sport competition was held on a Saturday afternoon; just a few blocks away from our church headquarter. Youths thronged the occasion with their blue colored vests and white sneakers, while youth leaders maintained a white t-shirt. It was fun to be there, and seeing the faces of new people was the most thrilling of all. We were scheduled for the last run-up, which was "a game of eggs." It was played by a volunteered team member who was  supposed to run to a finish mark, carrying an egg on a spoon. I have never done anything like this before, neither have I been to a gathering where people run with eggs. Each team player was given a spoon, and the referee placed a raw egg on each of them; while they waited for his directives. The whistle had been rung and team players ran as gently as they could so their eggs wouldn’t fall. At the end of the mark, we came in forth position. Although we didn't received an award or price, the competition, gave us an edge. It brought both new and old members of our church together for the purpose of sustaining a mutual, perhaps, a cordial relationship with each other. Alas, I was able to meet people who actually understood me and who wanted to hear what I had to say. It is a day I will never forget. We talked, sat at a round table to eat; prayed and sang. The sport competition made us aware of our weakness—how we could solve the problems entangled in it; and how we should relate to each other never minding the circumstance at that point in time. If I have had a grudge with anyone in a youth group, I believe the competition would have healed it.

Epilogue: Building Trust, Friendship and Commitment

I could see the look on our faces after the competition, how we held hands and laughed like we had  seen each other after a long break-up. Life is too short to hold grudges or start a war that may never seem to end. Creating a scene where young boys and girls can relate to each other and share their ideas, with a common synopsis of what they want, develops a foundation that cannot be subdued by fear. Trust, begins with understanding, and friendship connects an odd and even person together for the purpose of a mutual commitment; which is laid on the tiers of sport. In the world we live in, one of the key notions that have reduced racism and unemployment is sport.

People now see a difference in what they do, because they believe that partaking in a game that thrills people, encourages them to do more to keep it the way it is supposed to be. From my short story, I never had an a venue to express myself, and no one cared to listen to what I had to say, but the competition brought out a new leaf in me. Developing more channels for creative sport competition is a way to ease the tension of a poor relation that has separated youths across the world.

NAME: - VICTOR EHIKIOYA OMOVBUDE EHORVOUNMEN BROWN

COUNTRY: - NIGERIA.