Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Thanking God for Personal Achievements

It seems to be the  norm.  An African American athlete wins a competition and the first thing they do normally is to give thanks to God.  I have noticed that in the on going Olympic Track and Field qualifying events currently being held in Eugene, Oregon.  A European American athlete who wins normally does not give thanks to God for the achievement.  In contrast to the African American athlete, the European American athlete appears to only give credit to themselves and other human beings they believe assisted in their effort.  They don't seem to acknowledge where there athletic gifts come from and assume a win is what they are entitled to.

Maybe it's an issue of culture and background.  Do European American athletes really believe that they are entitled to victory based on their human efforts only?  Do European American athletes feel God deserves no credit in their accomplishments?

This "thanking God" issue goes beyond athletics.  I often hear musicians, and business people of African American descent thanking God for personal successes.  Again, on the reverse side the number of  European Americans who give thanks to God openly seems less.  I would like to see a news reporter asks American European athletes and those in other various occupations, why they don't thank God when someone compliments them on "their" success?

To not thank God seems arrogant and a demonstration of false natural superiority.  It's as if the person believes they are entitled to being the best because they did all the work.  We all know that is not the case.

Of course not all African American's stop and give thanks to God.  But, if you take note of the occasions when it happens, normally it is an African American who does so.  Next time you hear an athlete, musician, or some other person experiencing a success, take note of whom they give thanks and credit to.

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