If you’re a fan of American sports history, you’re likely familiar with Jesse Owens. Much to the chagrin of Adolf Hitler, Owens, a black man, won four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. But you may not be familiar with Karl Ludwig “Luz” Long, a white German who held the European record in the long jump going into the Olympic Games.
If not for Long, Owens was likely to have missed the finals in his best event, the long jump. Jesse had fouled on his first two attempts; another foul and he would be disqualified. It was Long who shared a technique which allowed Owens to qualify on his final jump. In the finals, Owens edged out Long for the gold medal. Yet, Long was the first to congratulate Jesse.
After the awards’ ceremony, Owens and Long locked arms and took a victory lap, side-by-side, through the Berlin Olympic Stadium. That might not seem extraordinary today, but their public display of respect and unity was done under Hitler’s nose. For his kindness, Long received stern warnings of disapproval from Nazi officials. He ignored them and developed a genuine friendship with Owens, a friendship that would last over the years and across the miles.
Reflecting on Long’s courageous acts of kindness during those Olympic Games, Owens later said, “It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler… You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn’t be a plating for the twenty-four karat friendship that I felt for Luz Long at that moment.”
Owens and Long continued to correspond with one another by letter for the next several years. The content of Luz’s final letter to Jesse demonstrates the depth of their friendship. We’ll look at that letter next time.
Until then, let me ask – have you erected any barriers that Jesus died to tear down? Together, let’s remember these words from Paul, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28) –Dave
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