I suggest that every person reading this article - this writer included - has daydreamed of a time when he or she would spend one shining moment of affirmation. A moment in time when those around us take notice of us and affirm us. Affirm that our efforts and talent matter. That what we do, in the midst of all of humanity's efforts, makes a difference.

American artist Andy Warhol suggested that in the realm of celebrity, many would indeed have this experience but it would be a fleeting condition. Warhol perhaps understood that the media attach to that which is spectacular to the public, regardless how superficial. Then, after affording it 15 minutes of fame, they move on to some new object or person as soon as our attention span is exhausted.

I hope this will not be the case with the attention given to the student-athletes of the University of Florida men's basketball team in repeating as national champions. Something special happened with that win. For America, for all of us, this was one shining moment.

No, it was not that a university won both national championships in both football and basketball in the same year, though this was spectacular. Not even that the basketball team fielded the first intact starting team from the prior year's championship team, which also was spectacular.

What makes this a shining moment was the mind-set of these student-athletes. The championship of last season gave each starter and the coach his 15 minutes of fame. Yet in an era that seems to be all about "what's in it for me," these young men seemed to understand that life is about more than that. They turned down potential millions of dollars to be a part of something greater than each one of them. They now leave a legacy that no amount of money can buy. They leave a standard of team spirit that cannot be coached.

In one shining moment, they showed America what can happen when personal ego is sacrificed on the altar of the good for all. They showed America and the world what can happen when all the things that divide us can be replaced by focusing on what can unite us. In one shining moment, they showed us what is possible when we allow that each one of us has weaknesses and strengths that can be used to tear each one down or collectively empower us to conquer any foe.

The media may move on and focus on the next spectacular, superfical thing. It may well be about how many millions some other student athlete will get by leaving school and going for the gold.

But for one shining moment, we should celebrate the fact that at least five student-athletes at the University of Florida understood that they were not "islands to themselves" but chose to be a part of something greater than themselves, regardless of the sacrifice.

For one shining moment, we should ask ourselves what would happen if we all came to this realization.