"You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously. You will find peace not in denial, but in victory." J. Donald Walters
Me concentrating on a game-winning free throw shot.
When I was in school, I loved the thrill of competing in anything athletic – volleyball, basketball, track, and tennis. I was fortunate to go to a large school so we had pretty good teams for all sports. We usually entered the playing field expecting to win. There would be those rare times though when the opponent we faced was formidable; we knew they were bigger and better than we were. Even though we knew the odds were against us, we put our game face on and put forth our best effort hoping and praying that a miracle would occur and we would win. Sometimes, we did!
ALS is the formidable opponent on the playing field of my life right now. I know the odds are against us but every day we put our game face on and walk on the field once again hoping and praying that by some miracle we will experience a victory. Some days we do! Some days Akhil insists that he is functioning better than the day before whether he feels he is speaking better or able to walk better we graciously accept the victory. Some days we suffer defeat in the form of a new physical challenge that wasn’t there the day before. No matter how the day before went, we enter the field again the next day with our fighting spirit ready to take on the challenge.
When facing an ominous opponent, there are a couple of choices: we can concede to defeat before the action even begins or we can confront our opponent courageously and have hope that things may be different than the odds or experts, or our friends suggest. We can easily grasp that slim chance of hope because we have an amazing, powerful God that is with us during every moment.
When the Israelites were about to go into battle, the priest would come forward and address the army. He would say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deuteronomy 20:3-4 When we face ALS each day, we need to have the same attitude as the Israelites. We cannot be afraid; if we allow fear to fill our minds then there is no room for faith. We need to enter the playing field just as we did as confident young athletes, knowing our team is bigger and better than any opponent we face. Our athletic coach and cheerleaders have been replaced by the Holy Spirit and God. They are on the field with us guiding us and cheering us on; one way or another leading us to victory.
ALS is the formidable opponent on the playing field of my life right now. I know the odds are against us but every day we put our game face on and walk on the field once again hoping and praying that by some miracle we will experience a victory. Some days we do! Some days Akhil insists that he is functioning better than the day before whether he feels he is speaking better or able to walk better we graciously accept the victory. Some days we suffer defeat in the form of a new physical challenge that wasn’t there the day before. No matter how the day before went, we enter the field again the next day with our fighting spirit ready to take on the challenge.
When facing an ominous opponent, there are a couple of choices: we can concede to defeat before the action even begins or we can confront our opponent courageously and have hope that things may be different than the odds or experts, or our friends suggest. We can easily grasp that slim chance of hope because we have an amazing, powerful God that is with us during every moment.
When the Israelites were about to go into battle, the priest would come forward and address the army. He would say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deuteronomy 20:3-4 When we face ALS each day, we need to have the same attitude as the Israelites. We cannot be afraid; if we allow fear to fill our minds then there is no room for faith. We need to enter the playing field just as we did as confident young athletes, knowing our team is bigger and better than any opponent we face. Our athletic coach and cheerleaders have been replaced by the Holy Spirit and God. They are on the field with us guiding us and cheering us on; one way or another leading us to victory.
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