“Blessed is the one who patiently perseveres under trial." ~ James 1:12
In the ’92 Summer Olympics,
Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and the rest of the Dream Teamers were
heavily favored to win gold. But few
predicted that a new nation formed from the fallen heap of the communist empire
would become a medal contender.
When the Soviets won the 1988 gold medal in men’s
basketball, four of the five starters were Lithuanian. They were forced to stand and honor the flag
of the country that had systematically slaughtered thousands of their compatriots.
Lithuania’s new basketball team needed money, desperately. Šarūnas Marčiulionis, a Lithuanian-born NBA star
playing for the Golden State Warriors, took up the cause for his homeland. He wasn’t having much luck finding donors
until a local sports writer penned a piece about their struggle in the San
Francisco Chronicle. The article
caught the attention of the Grateful Dead.
Along with other grass-root donations, the first-year team soon
headed to Barcelona. Emotions ran high
for men competing for their own flag for the first time in over 50 years.
They defeated Brazil in the quarter-finals before falling to
the Americans in the Semis.
But the fight for national pride and historic dignity came
when they squared off for 3rd place against their former Russian overlords. In the end, the tiny Baltic nation prevailed
82-78. Call it the “Miracle on
Hardwood.”
They became instant media sensations when they received
their bronze medals atop the podium wearing the Dead’s flamboyant T-shirts
rather than traditional warmup suits. The
Grateful Dead had supported them when nobody else would. The design was "enshrined" at the
Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts the next year.
Lithuania captured bronze twice more: Atlanta in 1996 and
Sydney in 2000. To this day, Lithuanian
basketball merchandise remains one of the most popular designs on the official
Skullman lineup of Grateful Dead paraphernalia.
The Grateful Dead remains relevant 25 years after Jerry
Garcia's passing. The group established
the Rex Foundation in 1983 to formally guide their charitable giving based on
1960s ideals: not to define or control, but to allow for enough flexibility to
adapt. To date, the Rex Foundation has
awarded 1,300 grants and reinvested nearly $10 million into communities across
the globe.
Despite the odds, the Lithuanian team pushed through
hardships and complications with a little help from an unlikely source. And God offered
His two hands – the Son and Holy Spirit too.
Father God, guide our steps, our thoughts,
and our attitudes as we partner with You in faith, obedience, and compassion
for others. Spark the flame of faith brilliantly
in our lives and keep it glowing by Your power. Amen
