During the writing of this article I'm reminded that I've got so much more than I need. I was even given a free ticket to the luncheon that reopened my eyes to how blessed I really am. I wish everyone in Enid could have had the benefit of hearing the talk that I heard. It was so much more than an overview of a book.
I'm talking about a speech given by Lopez Lomong, an Olympic athlete, that was invited to come speak in Enid. Kyle Brownlee, with Wymer Brownlee, had come across his book while on a business trip. The book had been given out and people were invited to read this young mans inspiring story.
Kyle sat down to read the book and completed it in one weekend. He was truly inspired. So inspired as a matter of fact, that when he returned to Enid he asked his marketing director, Molly Helm, to see if she could track down the author and invite him to Enid. A very short time later Kyle was surprised as Molly said it was done. When he asked how that could have possibly happened, Molly replied, "I found him on Facebook, sent him a friend request, he friended me and I asked him if he would come to Enid. He said he would."
After Kyle got over the shock of how convenient and quickly social media can work he set things in motion to bring Lopez to Enid. You see, Lopez Lomong is much more than a speaker and an athlete, he's a survivor and motivator. Lopez has written a book, “Running for My Life: One Lost Boy’s Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games", which tells his story of being taken by soldiers at the age of 6, escaping and eventually making it to America. The book also describes how he was adopted by a New York couple and eventually became a world class athlete making it to the Olympics.
Lomong's bio is in his book and is also the story he related to a packed house on Friday at the Northern Oklahoma Gantz Center. The room was filled with business people, police officers, doctors, students, athletes, mothers and many others. They were there to hear the inspiring story of of a "Lost Boy of the Sudan." Although it was a great and compelling story and Lopez had our attention the entire time it was his personal observations and what he said afterward that actually moved me the most.
At one point in the talk Lopez told the story of how adjusting to life in America was harder than most would assume. He described how he had to adjust to showering. Lopez said that the water was so cold that he would jump in and out of the shower so that he could warm up and then jump back in to wash. In his mind the cold water was what had turned light skinned people so white. Fearing he would eventually turn white Lopez decided to carry a bowl of water downstairs to heat it up. When his father confronted him about what he was doing it finally became apparent that Lopez had no idea about the warm water handle in the shower.
When the speech was over there came a time for questions. During a response Lopez described that as a young child one of his biggest goals was to one day be able to carry a pen in his pocket. As he would see the relief workers walking around with pens in their pockets and pieces of paper he wanted nothing more than to have the ability to do the same thing. These were the insights that moved me the most. The simple things that we take for granted every day. Things as menial as cups of clean water and pens in our pockets.
Since coming to America and becoming successful Lopez has not forgotten his roots. He has started a foundation to provide clean water, education, health care, and nutrition to the world's most vulnerable people in South Sudan. He has also fulfilled another dream that most people will never notice. Lopez Lomong now carries a pen in his pocket every place he goes.
Learn more about the Lopez Lomong Foundation and his book at www.lopezlomong.com.
