Opinion

May 28, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – That Lynn Davies.  Geez, he was something else, wasn’t he?

What’s that?  “Who’s Lynn Davies”, you ask?

Well, let me tell you. He’s the former British athlete who won gold at the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Not ringin’ a bell for ya?

Okay. Lynn is a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.  He’s a stroke below being named an official “knight”.  Still not floatin’ your boat?

Alright. “Lynn the Leap” made the following statement many years ago. 

“There are hurdles to overcome in sport and in life.  Sport is a very valuable learning ground for how to live your life in the best possible way.”

“Big whoop”, you retort?  Well hold on a second there, Jeeves. This Lynn Davies is so – to borrow a most over-used phrase – “relevant” in today’s culture.

There is not one, single, solitary person who has ever lived or will ever live on this bountiful planet who has never been faced or will never face a hurdle.  And just to drive home good ‘ole Lynn’s point, we don’t mean those fixtures that sit on running tracks that hurt like the dickens if you clip one at high running speed.

I mean a real hurdle, like… oh… I dunno… like… well… human sexuality.

Yes. One of the greatest gifts our Creator has bestowed upon us lowly cretins is the high-to-heaven distinction of being a “playa-yo” in the mysterious act of creation. 

Two flesh. Becoming one. Oh, baby. Literally.

Oh yeah. The “hurdle” of human sexuality.

Okay. Let me flip the script on you for a sec. Now back to the world of actual hurdles. Yeah. The one Lolo Jones clipped back at the Beijing Games in 2008 which denied her that life-long dream of Olympic Gold.

I know. Many of you are asking, “who’s Lolo Jones”?  My response? Only a culture hero. That’s all. And it’s not for any gold medal she had placed around her neck in the sporting arena. In the arena of life, Ms. Jones made the most remarkable of statements in recent days. What was so mind-blowing that came from Lolo’s lips? She is saving herself for marriage.

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The 29-year old hard-body with looks that kill, is a virgin. Ka. Boom.

On her decision to stay chaste, Jones called it “harder than training for the Olympics. Harder than studying for college, has been staying a virgin before marriage.”

Youth of today. If you’re reading this, and I know you are, take those words like the back of a body wash bottle. Open up those words.  Let it lather in your soul. Don’t apply liberally. Let the words wash over you… envelope you. Rinse. REPEAT.

Lolo Jones, in one fell swoop, hit the nail on the head. Holding back is hard. We know this, people. But moreover, it is possible. And don’t give me any of this garbage about some being pre-disposed to doing it better than others. We will have none of that nonsense.

Why?

Well let me turn your attention once again to Lolo Jones. The hero sans gold medal… sans silver spoon.

Lori, who would become “Lolo”, had about as tough an upbringing as one could possibly have. It’s one thing to be a woman on the move, but for a child to attend 8 schools in 8 years must have been harrowing. In a family of six, her mother held down two jobs to make ends meet. It’s because not only was Lolo’s dad absent, the man who was an alcoholic who spent much of his time in state prison. Where was home for the third-grader and her family? The basement of a Des Moines Salvation Army church. 

To go on would make your heart wrench with sadness. Yet, it is a most magnificent story. While having dinner with a great friend, Dr. Anthony Galea last week, the good doc told me that Lolo has intimated that she would like to accompany Galea to the Holy Land. After already making a couple of trips with Tony to Jerusalem, a third with this great woman would be an honour. 

You see, folks. This is no self-absorbed, stuck-up, “I’ll be in my trailer, ALONE”-type woman. Lolo Jones’ journey through life is a model. Especially to those young people who need to understand, with every fibre of their being, the old mantra – “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

About her decision to keep potential suitors at arm’s length, Jones goes on to say, “I’ve been tempted.  I’ve had guys tell me, ‘You know, if you have sex, it will help you run faster.” Ladies in the house. Can you feel her? I’m sure you do! I’m a man. I know she speaks the truth. How pathetic.

Over the weekend, Jones conducted an interview with E! News in which she was asked about all the “good-natured jabs about her recently revealed virginity.” But let’s be clear, my good people. There are those out there who are not at all amused by this most amazing declaration. After all, abortionists don’t want impressionable youth getting any weird, stupid ideas about … ugh… chastity. 

The fact of the matter is, to some, Lolo Jones is an enemy merely for what she is standing for. And that is not only sexual preservation, but the most glorious institution of marriage! How old-fashioned. How new and exhilarating!

Is it possible that we, as a culture, might be in the nascent stages of a massive shift in how we look at ourselves as God sees us? As beautiful beings worthy of dignity, respect, and a love that can only be given and received as God does?  Geesh. I dunno. Heavy stuff, I’ll admit. I pray that we are making that move. 

But before I let you go, keep this in mind. Sports writer Kevin Armstrong of New York’s “Daily News” recently tweeted that several Jets players were chanting “Lolo, Lolo!” as another professed-virgin Tim Tebow entered the team’s locker room.

Lolo, who is quite adept at social media, saw the tweet and responded – “Hello by Lionel Richie is now on repeat on my ipod.” Hilarious. 

Lynn Davies? You said it, good ‘ole chap.

You said it, sir.

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