thoughts on the news of the day: underdogs

hmmm…..

            Holy Cow!  Little bitty Baylor in Waco, Texas beat football powerhouse Oklahoma in a surprising upset last night.  The score was 38-45.  Don’t you know there is some wild celebrating going on in Waco?  I have Baylor and Oklahoma fans in my midst.  Personally, I have no great attachment to either team, but it is always interesting when the underdog prevails.

            We love sports and we love it when the David overtakes the Goliath.  The first underdog story ever is told in the Bible when young David, the shepherd, slings a shot at a huge giant named Goliath striking him dead.  Don’t you know the crowd cheered?

            I think the reason we love underdogs so much is that we identify with them.  Who hasn’t felt like someone or something was far greater a foe than we could ever win against?  We feel unprepared, unsuccessful and ineffective.  This is where God comes in.  The old Bible quote goes, “If God is with us, who can be against us?”  Now, this quote oftentimes is used as a proof text to get our own way.  But I don’t think that is what it means.  I think it means that if we are humble and put God first in a situation, then we might find a way to reach a compromise, which doesn’t happen unless the underdog has a powerhouse on their side. 

            One thing is true; God always wins.  And that’s a fact you can count on.

            hmmm…..