Also Ran!

  Also Ran? 

Then the LORD said to Joshua,

 “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

(Joshua 8 vs.1) 

            Being an also-ran is a way of life. We rarely finish first. Russell Sanders uttered the famous quote, “Winning isn’t everything it is the only thing.” It is not true and here are some: My friend Pat McNamara qualified in four different Olympics and did not win a medal; my brother Wayne swam for years and was a national top ten in four events but never had a national championship; Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski played years for the Red Sox and never received a world series ring, and the list goes on! None of the above is a loser and all were or are proud of their accomplishments.           

For instance, I have three triathlon trophies out of 21 races; a second, a third, and an only! There was always someone faster until the Summer of 2011 when no one else my age competed. Did I lose? Never. In each Triathlon that I did, in the last mile of the run, I would well up with tears of joy from the sheer pride in my accomplishment. The pain experienced during the run would go away, the legs would seem fresh again and the finishing sprint would feel and look great. Second, Third or twentieth did not matter; I was winning inside!          

Clint Purvis, the team chaplain for Florida State University's football team under Bobby Bowden put it like this after a tough loss to Miami, “There is a huge difference between getting beat in a game and being a loser.” Clint reminded the team of the characteristics of being a winner:

 

1.      A winner still remembers that God never forsakes His own.

2.      A winner must remember that it is always painful and costly to claim victory again.

3.      A winner will always remember the source of all his blessings.

(from Bobby Bowden’s Called to Coach, Howard Books, 2010” 

            We rarely are number one but since God is always with us, we are always winners. 

Thought for Today: Today we will have battles we do not expect. With God’s help, let us be winners no matter which way the battle turns out! 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, today we thank you for being with us at all times in every place. We thank you because when you are along we will be winners.

Amen