Bonnie St. John brought inspiration to the clients of Metropolitan Ministries Wednesday night.
St. John, whose leg was amputated when she was 5, told those folks how she overcame the obstacle to become a multiple-medal winner at the 1984 Winter Paralympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria. It's an amazing story.
As she says, "If a one-legged, African-American girl from San Diego can go to the Olympics and win medals in skiing, then anything is possible!"
St. John also knows more was possible. She told the audience at the Ministries' Bridge Builders Luncheon Thursday that while she won a silver medal and two bronze medals, she could have won gold if she hadn't fallen on a patch of ice near the finish line. She also knows if she hadn't gotten up and crossed the finish line, she might have gone home completely empty-handed.
"At Metropolitan Ministries last night I shared that story with one of the gentlemen there and he said, "You know, I get into that situation all the time,"' St. John said. "Just when things are about to work out for me, something goes wrong. I'm never able to get past that point."
The maze of problems the poor and homeless often find themselves in can be that frustrating.
In fact, the nearly 2,000 people at the luncheon in the Tampa Convention Center had to go through a maze to reach their tables. At each turn and twist, an illuminated message detailed some of the problems that result in people seeking Metropolitan Ministries' help: job losses, failed relationships, abuse, medical problems.
Thanks to St. John, the theme carried through the luncheon. She accentuated her personal maze story by explaining how important it is to recover after falling down, just like she recovered in time to win a medal. The gold medal winner also fell, but she beat out St. John because she got up faster.
"People fall down. Winners get up," St. John said. "And those who get up the fastest win the gold."
St. John got up and got going to Harvard and Oxford before becoming a top business executive and eventually landing a job in President Clinton's administration. Still, she had to rely on faith-based services and counseling to unearth and conquer another obstacle: the childhood physical and sexual abuse inflicted upon her by her mother's wayward boyfriends. Just like the Metropolitan Ministries clients, she had to find her way.
The fact that this Rhodes Scholar has much in common with road weary folks should tell us we all could end up in life's maze.
STARTING NEXT WEEK, you may be seeing more of me, unless you're my wife.
Those who enjoy lively discussions on local issues or who channel surf through the cable lineup might have seen me occasionally on Weekly Review, the county government public affairs program that airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on HTV22.
Well, starting next Friday, I'm going to be the show's new host, hoping to fill the shoes of departing host Sondra Guffey, who is moving on to greener pastures. It's only a part-time gig and I'll still be on hand to chronicle events for the Times. In fact, I don't want anyone, especially the County Commission, to think I'm going to be a county employee. I'm merely a vendor rendering services as a moderator because somebody over there thinks I can handle the job.
I'll try to fool them as long as I can.
Overall, I'm excited because it'll be a chance to help inform folks and learn even more about the day's pressing issues. I'm going to bring back some of those opinions to our readers and who knows, I may find myself tackling some serious subjects every now and then. Heaven help me.
In exchange, I'll receive $250 a show, which will be promptly handed over to my wife. I have to do something to compensate for spending yet another night away from home.
