Overcoming Obstacles
Intro by Sr. Amy McFrederick: I'm not a football fan and I had no intention to watch the Super bowl game last evening. But I was ok with having it on as I continued to read my book. Looking up every so often, I followed the score somewhat distractedly until after the half time show. It was only after the Patriots made their first touchdown, that I became engaged and watched with amazement as they fought their way back to tie the game, go into overtime, then actually win! What an example of not losing hope when things seem to be going south! What about us? How does our hope stand up to the daily challenges we meet?
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Meeting the Challenge
One of my favorite programs is American Ninja Warriors in which athletes strive to overcome obstacles using their physical strength to win a large money prize. Many people come out to compete but very few make it to the end. They tackle things like the Giant Rolling Log where they catapult themselves in the air to grab a log that is floating above them, then grab a rope and swing to the next obstacle. The 14 foot Warp Wall requires they run as fast as possible up the 14 feet and go over the top. The Flying Squirrel, which is impossible to describe except to say it's very, very hard. The Broken Bridge, which they must cross by leaping over widely spaced planks. In each segment, heading for the final test, the obstacles increase in difficulty. They train in every way possible but there is no rehearsal for the stage they are trying to conquer. The athletes climb, they run, they jump, they hold on with fingertips as they hang from one disk and swing toward another. Every muscle is at work. They try to stay focused on the task at hand all the while knowing the clock is ticking and they have very little time. When they miss, they land in the water, smile bravely, go home and start training for next year.There's no rehearsal
