A bolt of lightning struck scores of sports fans at a busy intersection know as Half-Way Tree in the heart of Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday afternoon. Evidently, it was not related to the storm systems that race across the Caribbean sea at this time of the year. It originated thousand of miles to the east in London, England.

The incident left scores of spectators, young and old alike electrified and giddy with excitement lasting for some time thereafter as the crowd shared in the monumental, record breaking performance of Jamaica's 4x100 meter men's relay team of Bolt, Blake, Frater and Carter.

The sweltering heat from the bright skies above was a mere inconvenience as drivers with flags waving honked horns, spectators screamed, jumped and ran gleefully around as a bunch of youngsters would at a birthday party, at the beach or a school yard.

Suffering from what felt like an impending heat stroke I walked to a nearby local eatery. The store owner and I engaged in a conversation about the importance of national pride and moments when we can suspend our individual "reality" to participate in the simple activity of pure playfulness and joy, something youth know about and practice a lot.

So, as the excitement subsides and we return to individual realities, we may want to focus on the ways we are alike and connected as a people.  Maybe we can also choose to cherish community and collectively fan the flames of  youthfulness and hope. For all around the crowd on this festive occasion I saw the freshness of possibility in the eyes and smiles of so many youngsters.