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Taking Names and Keeping Score
Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.” I Samuel 17: 48-50 (NIV) I am sure it is obvious to most if not all of you that the Bible scripture used to open my column is part of the story about the young Israelite shepherd boy, David who used nothing but a stone and his sling to slay a fully armed Goliath, the Philistine giant who had been terrorizing the Israeli army that had gone out to fight the Philistines in the Valley of Elah. As the story goes David, the youngest of eight sons born to his father Jesse had been summoned from his usual job of tending the sheep and told by his father to take food and supplies to his older brothers who were with King Saul and his army in the war with the Philistines. When he got to his destination he found the camp in turmoil because of Goliath who was standing out in front of the Philistine lines hollering insults and challenges into the Israelite camp. When no one else in the camp took issue with the defiling comments Goliath was making and offered to fight him, David stepped forward and told King Saul he would go out to meet him. Only after realizing that none of the other soldiers were coming forward and a lot of convincing by David that he was able to do it, did Saul let the young lad enter the battlefield against Goliath. Naturally to Goliath it was an insult for his enemies to send this apparently unarmed shepherd boy out to meet him. After laughing and mocking David his anger was kindled upon him and he set out to destroy him. We all know how it turned out. As David stepped on that battlefield to face what was the challenge of his life, up to that point, he did so full of confidence, expecting to win and knowing with God as his strength he would finish strong. His being able to approach that situation with that attitude came about because of his faith and the experiences he had as a shepherd when he was called upon to rescue sheep from lions and bears. This week the Thomasville Tigers, Sweet Water Bulldogs and Leroy Bears are all traveling to Birmingham to compete in the AHSAA Super Six State Championship Games. They will be facing the challenges of their young athletic lives to this point when they represent this neighborhood we call Southwest Alabama in the lA, 2A and 4A games. Unlike David in his encounter with Goliath, their challenges aren’t life or death. But like David’s challenge theirs is very important to each member of the team personally, the team as a whole collectively and to those they represent. For at least two of the teams, expecting to win and finishing strong have been mottos to live by this season and their efforts on the field thus far have been good examples of how they have taken them to heart. As each of the teams approaches this great challenge that is before them, I would encourage them to do so with confidence, fully expecting to win and committed to finish strong. Because like David who protected the sheep he was responsible for from the predators that would take them from him, they have met the challenges this season has brought their way and prevailed. As for the rest of us, perhaps facing the daily challenges in each of our lives with confidence, expecting to win and committed to finish strong might be the best approach as well. I hope to see as many of you as can make it in Birmingham this week to support these young athletes who will be representing us there.
Until next time……be safe!
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