march madness!
It's March madness time, and I love it! I guess it must originate from growing up in Indiana, where there is a basketball hoop in every driveway. It's kind of funny; the older I get, the more I like the NCAA tournament. So, I'm asking myself, "Self, how's come you like college basketball so well out of all the other sports to enjoy?" I think I've figured it out.
Three words: David and Goliath. I've loved that Bible history since I was a kid. God told the Prophet Samuel to go to Jesse's home and anoint a new king for Israel. The situation reminds me of choosing basketball teams for pick-up games. Two guys would start choosing among all of us standing around. We all hoped that we would not be left standing there alone, the last one selected. That was a blow to the ego.
The likely candidates paraded before Samuel, but Samuel turned each one down. Finally, he asked if there were any other brothers in the family. "Well, there's little David. We left him out in the field tending the sheep, and he's not the one you want." Samuel asked for David anyway, and as soon as David came on the scene, the prophet knew this was God's man. He was the least of all the brothers, or so it seemed.
Fast forward. The army of Israel is being humiliated by one giant man named Goliath, who represents Israel's nemesis, the Philistines. No one had the guts to face the behemoth in battle. Every day the belligerent giant would march onto the battlefield and taunt the shivering Israelis. That is until David shows up.
David steps forward with a slingshot, a standard weapon in ancient war. The young warrior was faster, nimbler, and deadly accurate. Now there were probably hundreds of sling-shooters in the Israeli army. What was the difference between them and the little shepherd boy? More about that later.
Goliath was at a disadvantage, but he didn't know it because his pride blinded him. There is no way he could outrun a stone rocketing towards him, and he was too slow to catch David. Ancient Romans used slingshots with lead bullets as powerful as a .44 magnum handgun, and they could literally take off the top of your head. All David had to do was stay within a safe distance from the giant and hurl rocks at his head. I can't help but think many men in the Israeli army could run as fast as David and shoot a sling superbly. Why hadn't they tried this strategy?
Little-known colleges show up at the NCAA tournament and take down huge, famous universities every year. Everyone gets an equal chance because it's a one-and-done contest – you lose, and you're out. However, when you play for an elite basketball university, you can get a swelled head and assume outcomes that may not happen as you think. Teams representing small schools often step on the hardwood with two vital attitudes. They are incredibly grateful to make it to the "big dance," and they are starving to win. What do they have to lose? They made it to play in one of the most extraordinary sporting events in the world. Win or lose; this will be a great story to tell the grandkids. The pressure to win is far less than the elites experience. That's what I like about March Madness.
David was a nobody from nowhere, and his father did not even consider him an option for Samuel to consider! His brothers were ticked off that he got the nod, and now he was flaunting it on the battlefield right before their jealous eyes.
But David's motivation was well beyond "manly" considerations. The sling shooter displayed two deep characteristics, apparently lacking in his brothers and the entire army. In David's mind, he was not simply fighting a nearby nation whom he detested; the pure-hearted young man was fighting an enemy of his God whom he loved and respected. In slang, "You can mess with me, perhaps even my family and countrymen, but when you mess with my God, you've got a problem with me!" Secondly, taking on formidable foes was no new adventure. While guarding sheep, he fought lions, bears, and such. Even Goliath was no match for a bear! "The big boy's going down!"
This was no schoolboy contest on a basketball court; to David, this was serious business, and he had no intention of losing, and he didn't.
God seems to be inclined towards the little guy. It's always been that way. He took a no-name group of people and made a nation of them that still exists today - Israel. He finds obscure people and uses them in mighty ways. He changes the world through fishermen and homemakers, and He gives special attention to children, the elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill. The Almighty picks the least likely people, loves them, and uses them to face down Goliaths.
Most of us will face multiple "Goliath" moments throughout the course of our lives. These occurrences will test our dedication to God and cause us to discover the courageous person who lies deep within our spirit. Sometimes we will appear to "fail" the test. We get a chance to do something right, brave, compassionate, or generous, but we simply do not do it. Welcome to the human conundrum. But here's the good news.
"Tests" with God are not "pass/fail." There are numerous times in David's future when he would not live up to his convictions. Of course, his tryst with Bathsheba is the most prominent; but this was not his only "D-" grade on an examination. He experienced many, as did all the historical characters revealed in the Bible. With God, the only way to lose is to quit altogether. Most of us will indeed "quit" for a day, a week, or even an entire season, but the story is not over. There are always more giants to conquer, and we will have our day. Your earthly tale will be over when you inhale and exhale for the last time – not before. The way of death for many people is the way of life for others.
Well, my Hoosiers are presently on the bubble. A few nights ago, they lost to Rutgers. Indiana has won five national basketball championships; Rutgers has won none. Indiana's loss to this team may have cost them participation in the coveted NCAA tournament. What's worse, they beat us on our home court! How dare they!
We have one more game that might get us into the tournament with a win. The Hoosiers will play our cross-state nemesis, Purdue University. What does Purdue mean anyway? The only other Purdue I know is chicken found at grocery stores. Ah, my pride is swelling! This year, they are a highly ranked team, well above the Hoosiers – what's a Hoosier anyway? – and we will be on their turf. Perhaps, just perhaps, we can become David against Goliath. I'm pretty sure God is a Hoosier, so we got that going for us. I digress.
You know what, there will always be next year for my team, and there will always be next year for you too! Don't give up, don't let up, don't back off, and certainly don't quit. If you have surrendered, get up right now and get back into the game. God specializes in helping people who refuse to give up.
I'll add one more addendum. If you are a person connected to one who is ready to throw in the towel, be a friend and the one who helps your comrade rise to fight another day. Neither of you will regret it.
Live Inspired,
Don Mark
P.S. Please check out my online Live Inspired! Store and gift an item or two to a friend or one for yourself. You will be helped impoverished women leaders in South Asia to transform villages with the love of God. www.donmarkhamilton.com Click on "Shop"
