Funny how there are some stories that are retold through the centuries with little question of actual occurrence due to widespread acceptance of the inherent wisdom…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
David was up at the crack of dawn and, having arranged for someone to tend his flock, took the food and was on his way just as Jesse had directed him.\u00a0 He arrived at the camp just as the army was moving into battle formation, shouting the war cry.\u00a0 Israel and the Philistines moved into positions, facing each other, battle-ready.\u00a0 David left his bundles of food in the care of a sentry, ran to the troops who were deployed, and greeted his brothers.\u00a0 While they were talking together, the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, stepped out from the front lines of the Philistines, and gave his usual challenge.\u00a0 David heard him.\u00a0 The Israelites, to a man, fell back the moment they saw the giant \u2014 totally frightened.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But David, the youngest, smallest \u2014 thought to be weakest \u2014 was not afraid…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine.\u00a0 David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply.\u00a0 The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt.\u00a0 That\u2019s how David beat the Philistine \u2014 with a sling and a stone.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Something about that account makes me smile and cheer every time.\u00a0 There\u2019s something about David\u2019s underdog status that feels good…<\/i> something about the victor who no one simply expected to be there… something about not taking success for granted… something about faith and hard work and humility that\u2019s attractive…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On Friday night my sons\u2019 high school played in the Division II football state championship.\u00a0 They had never won before; in fact, in the school\u2019s 132 year history, they had been to the playoffs only 4 times, netting a single game victory.\u00a0 The school had no championships in any<\/i> sport.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We were playing a team known for their athletic tradition, a team coached by a well-respected man, whose son plays in the NFL \u2014 a team boasting several starters fully expected to also succeed at the collegiate level.\u00a0 Noting the massive size of several of their lineman, the Goliath comparisons came quickly.<\/p>\n
Imagine then our humble glee when on this freezing, snowy night, shockingly, our boys raced to a 34-0 halftime lead.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As the clock ticked away \u2014 and victory became more sweetly apparent, the thousands of us that travelled the approximate 4 hours, began to catch a glimpse of what we had actually grasped…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Here was a group of young men \u2014 young, impressionable teens \u2014 who were about to taste something that could propel their confidence to new levels, arguably spurring them on, boosting their self-confidence for whatever\u2019s next in life…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They worked hard.\u00a0 They believed in one another.\u00a0 They encouraged one another and held each other accountable.\u00a0 They played and prayed together.\u00a0 They had a vision and belief in what they could accomplish together, united, as a team!<\/i> … not this me-oriented thinking that is so prevalent in today\u2019s society within leadership and perceived success.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The student body, staff, administration, and community all then rallied around them.\u00a0 Friends from outside the community \u2014 former residents, adjacent school families \u2014 they rallied around.\u00a0 There was no negativity, no permeating criticism, no dwelling on what we weren\u2019t or aren\u2019t or have never been; rather, there was a community focus on together, who we could be and what we could accomplish.\u00a0 Let\u2019s cheer these growing young men on… in celebration… together.\u00a0 Amazing what unity will do… how good it feels.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There\u2019s just something about the victor who no one simply expected to be there… something about not taking success for granted… something about faith and hard work and humility that\u2019s attractive…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Well done, boys.\u00a0 Well done.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Respectfully,<\/p>\n
AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Funny how there are some stories that are retold through the centuries with little question of actual occurrence due to widespread acceptance of the inherent wisdom… David was up at the crack of dawn and, having arranged for someone to tend his flock, took the food and was on his way just as Jesse … <\/p>\n