All legacies live in the definition of moments.
As I was watching the closing moments of the USA World Cup Women's soccer match versus Brazil, I found myself in amazement contemplating the drastically polar effects of victory and defeat. The destiny of women's soccer in the USA depended on 11 players, and how they defined the fleeting moments of a far from perfect match.
If the USA had lost, history would have been made - the worst Women's World Cup finish in American history. The courageous display of American spirit that had kept them in the match would have been deemed irrelevant by their failure to capitalize in the closing moments. The world would chidingly applaud their futile fight while questioning their legitimacy as an international powerhouse. Confirmation would have been given to American sports fans that women's soccer was a non-entity.
Instead though, the world is celebrating their heroic display of true Americanism - courage, resourcefulness, and determination. Fans are jumping on the band wagon, flocking to twitter, myself included, to get any inside glimpse of these amazing American women.
All because they defined a series of crucial moments in a dire match in their favor. They stared failure in the face. And pursued greatness despite it.
A coward would have let the moments define them.
Yet, this group of women changed the course of their destiny, and inspired the world's cowardly to do the same. Granting men and women the world over permission to seize the moment and pursue greatness.
But as is the way of sport, the legitimacy of their unfolding destiny will again be challenged tomorrow. It will either be enhanced or undermined by how the American side defines each moment of their semifinal match versus France.
It is not an undertaking for the faint of heart.
For, a moment can change the course of destiny, but a lasting legacy is built on the continuity of those greatly defined moments; simple moments that live in every second of every game.
My heart applauds the 2011 USA Women's Soccer Team, who has reinforced my love of America:
Why I love America (by Rachel Dawson, 2010)
America celebrates the courage of the individual who pursues his own greatness. We don't respect the coward who sits behind his shield of comfort; instead we love the man who goes in search of his own destiny; the man who is told he cannot, and he ought not, but despite the discouragement, he follows the voice of his heart and seeks his vision.
We admire the rebellious of spirit, who proclaim that they are inspired by the vision and the pursuit of greatness.
America celebrates those who pursue their dreams - those who journey with boldness and courage as failure stares them in the face. We celebrate those who smile back at the failure with a rowdy grin, and say, you will not prevent me from making my attempt. America respects and values the man who in earnest tries. And often times, it is in this attempt, where the full essence of a man is realized.
For True Greatness lives in the Pursuit of Greatness.
So here it is: I love America because man is free, his spirit for greatness is untamed. Because man is not confined to a box by life; instead he is encouraged to break the binding of the box and use the material to sail the open sea, until he lands upon a befitting destiny.
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