Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Stone Kyambadde - true symbol of grace and forgiveness

I'm currently taking a course in Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. .... yes, I know I'm kinda behind, seeing as there is already an 8th habit! But nonetheless, it's quite inspiring all that is being shared in this course!

One story/experience that really caught me is about Stone Kyambadde - a promising soccer/football player who was already almost within the big leagues. His goal was to play in the European Cup ....or something like that ....when someone premeditatedly 'took out' one of his knees! With his ligament torn, there was no way Stone could continue to play with the big boys and so he retired and went home to Uganda.

Stephen Covey's DVD begins with a Caucasian who went to Uganda for his gap year but ended up staying to continue helping to improve people's lives after more than a decade of corruption and bad living. Timmins is his name (if I recall correctly), who apparently got the many unemployed and out of school youths there to start a soccer team.

After a short bit, the boys came with a Coach....who was no other than Stone Kyambadde. He still loved football and he wanted to be able to pass on the joy and the skills to the young'ins. Hearing him speak and hearing the voiceover about this humble man, I almost got tears in my eyes. There is no bitterness or anger in his for his 'attacker'. Apparently, Stone gave him his forgiveness and said, "You had to do, what you had to do". And now, he just enjoys a quiet life with his family......seems he is now heading a vocational school in Uganda just because he wants to make things better for the younger generations of his country.

In the DVD, Stone explains that someone has to help the young men see their potential, see their future for they will become fathers and husbands themselves and if they don't know how to conduct themselves in those roles, no change will evolve.

Stone Kyambadde is truly a 'Transition Man'! I salute him!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stone is a transformational leader. God bless him and his followers. :)

Alan R. Olson said...

In Sept 2009 I had the honor and privilege of having Stone stay in my home for 10 days here in San Diego and attend one of the 7 Habits classes I facilitated. To say it was a profound experience would be an understatement. Stone is all you could imagine him to be and more. One of the many things I learned from living with him was how he responds (proactively) to dissappointment. When Stone and I heard that his wife, Tabitha, could not join us from Minnesota for the 10 days because she had to work, we/I was very dissappointed. However, Stone did not seem at all upset though I was. That's when he told me "Alan, every dissappointment is merely a new appointment for something better that God will reveal in due time." Ever since that time I think of that when I am dissappointed and have found it is true if I am open and seeking vs. upset and sad. Right now Stone is trying to raise $50,000 to complete a clubhouse for the boys in Kampala, Uganda. If you want to help, simply contact Cornerstone Development http://www.cornerstonedevelopment.org/home.html who is the organization that works with Stone and the boys.
Sincerely, Alan Olson
7 Habits Facilitator, San Diego, CA.