Contribution

Every day we find people talking about their rights, asking their due from their boss, their organization, their leader, their government, their family, their peers, their friends. It’s nice to be aware about one’s right and also be conscious about what one rightfully deserves. The most common phrase that you might listen in day to day life is “I want”, “I deserve”, “I should get”, “They can’t deny”, “We must fight”, “Let’s agitate”.  It means we are a very conscious society about our rights; it’s good for a democracy, but as in any transaction if there is debit, there got to be credit somewhere, if someone is giving someone got to be receiving, there got to be contra entry for every transaction. So, for every right, there is a duty associated, for every demand there is a service associated, for every take away there is a contribution. Somehow in our race for our rights, we have ignored our duties, but it doesn’t mean we have forgotten the concept of duty altogether, its only we remember the other person’s duty, not ours. So we have the entire population reminding others of their duties, and conveniently forgetting their own.

The most interesting thing is that even after being reminded by others we tend not to realize, and retort with reminding the other person of their duties. Politicians reminding public and public reminding politicians, officer reminding subordinates, and subordinate though cannot remind his boss, but grudgingly mumbles about how his boss is neglecting his duties. But not all of us are like that; in fact there are many who still remember the virtue of contribution, contribution to the society, to the people. It’s a choice that some of us make, it’s a choice which some of us make without bothering about what others have chosen.

In today’s post I will share a story, which I consider an excellent example of contribution, contribution in its purest form. The story is about a young man by the name of John Baker, a gifted runner with Olympic aspirations. John’s sense of meaning and contribution is tested like never before. The choices he made, and the purpose he chose to pursue. This story is, a real story narrated by William J. Buchanan.

The future looked bright to twenty four year old John Baker in the spring of 1969, at the peak of an astonishing athletic career; he had fixe his dreams on representing the United States in the 1972 Olympic Games.

Nothing in Baker’s early years had hinted at such prominence. Light of build, and inches shorter than most of his teenage Albuquerque pals, he was considered “too uncoordinated” to run track in high school. But something happened during his junior year that changed the course of his life.

For some time, the Mazano High track coach, Bill Wohlfarth, had been trying to induce a tall promising runner named John Haaland – who was Baker’s best friend – to join the track team. Haaland refused, “Let me join the team” Baker suggested one day. “Then Hall might too.” Wolffarth agreed, and the manoeuvre worked. And John Baker had become a runner.

The first meet that year was a 1.7 mile cross-country race through the foothills east of Albuquerque. The reigning state cross-country champion Lloyd Goff was the clear favourite, Baker was not even considered having a remote chance. Halfway through the race, running well back of the leaders, Baker asked himself – “Am I doing my best?” Fixing his eye on the back of the runner immediately in front of him, he closed his mind to all else. Only one thing mattered: catch and pass that runner, and then go after the next one. An unknown reserve of energy surged through his body. One by one he passed the other runners. Ignoring the fatigue that tore at his muscles, he maintained his furious pace until he crossed the finish line and collapsed in exhaustion. An upset happened; which many considered a fluke.

In the spring of 1965, he competed with University of California’s “Big Three” – Chris Jhonson, Dough Calhoun, and Bruce Bess. All had better times than Baker.

Baker led for one lap, then eaed purposely back to fourth position, with 330 yards to go, Baker kicked into his final sprint, First Bess, then Calhoun, fell back. On the final turn it was Johnson and Baker neck to neck. Slowly Baker inched ahead. With both hands above his head in a V for victory sign, he broke the tape.

Baker always wanted to work with children, train them to be sprinters. Upon graduation, Baker accepted a job that would allow him to pursue his ambition of competing in Olympics while satisfying his interest of coaching kids. He was enjoying his work and was practicing for his ambition. He was very popular with kids, as he was a positive individual and always encouraged his students. His only demand was that each child do his or her best. His fairness and concern for children earned him the sobriquet of “Caring Coach”.

Early in May 1969, shortly before his 25^th birthday, Baker noticed that he was tiring prematurely during workouts. Two weeks later, he developed chest pains and one morning near the end of the month he awoke with swollen groin. He made an appointment with a doctor, the urologist Dr. Edward Johnson, who broke the shocking news that Baker had only 6 months to live, he had a cancerous growth and the mass was already widespread.

Baker, was not a person to surrender so easily, he told himself “Whatever time I have left, I am dedicating to the kids” Baker re-immersed himself in his job and added a new commitment – sports for the handicapped. Whatever their infirmity, children who had once stood idle on the side-lines now assumed position as “Coach’s time keeper” or “Chief Equipment Supervisor”, all wearing their official jerseys.

The grateful parents, who had lost hope on their children, were overwhelmed. They saw new energy and enthusiasm in their kids due to various innovative initiatives that Baker took.   

In December, during a routine visit to Dr. Johnson, Baker complained of a sore throat and headaches. Tests confirmed that the malignancy had spread to his neck and brains. For four month, Baker had been suffering server pain in silence, using his incredible power of concentration to ignore the pain. Dr. Johnson suggested painkilling injections. Baker refused saying “I want to work with the kids as long as I am able, the injections would dull my responses”.

“From that moment” Dr. Johnson later remarked, “I looked upon John Baker as one of the most unselfish person I’ve ever known”

Early in 1970, Baker was asked to help coach a small Albuquerque track club for girls from elementary though high school age. Its name – Duke City Dashers. Baker instantly agreed,

One day Baker arrived at a practice session carrying a shoebox. He announced that it held two awards, one for the girl who though never a winner, wouldn’t quit. The box had two shiny gold trophy cups. From that moment on deserving girls received such cups, Months later, Baker’s family discovered that they trophies were his, from his racing days, with his own name carefully burnished away.  

With his effort, Duke City Dashers were a club to contend with, breaking record after record. Baker predicted that his girls are going to the national AAU finals. He confided to friends that he had one remaining hope  - to live long enough to go along his girls to the finals.

But on the morning of October 28, Baker collapsed on the playground. Examination revealed that that the spreading tumour had ruptured, triggering shock. Declining hospitalization, Baker insisted on returning to school for one last day. He told his parents that he wanted the children to remember him walking tall, not lying helpless in the dirt.

In the early evening of November 23, Baker collapsed again. Barely conscious as attendants loaded him into an ambulance, he whispered to his parents, “Make sure the lights are flashing I want to leave the neighbourhood in style”. Shortly after dawn on November, 26, he turned on his hospital bed to his mother, who was holding his hands and said, “I’m sorry to have been so much trouble.” With a final sigh, he closed his eyes. It was Thanksgiving Day on 1970, eighteen months after John Baker’s first visit to Dr. Johnson. He had beaten the odds against death by twelve months.

Two days later, with tears streaming down their cheeks the Duke City Dashers won the AAU championship in St. Louis – “for Coach Baker”

John Baker did not choose to have cancer, but he did choose his response. He chose to make a contribution. By focusing his last energies on the hearts and spirits of the children, he left a lasting legacy in the lives of those he touched. And in so doing surely he experienced the inner rewards that accompany a life of meaning.

In 1976, director Douglas G. Johnson made a film – “John Baker’s Last Race”, the film is rated as “One of the best inspirational films of all time” by audience. The contribution has eternal life and extraordinary rewards. What did you contribute to society, today? Last week? Last month? If you can’t think of anything, then its time to stop and think.