Words of Wisdom - P.U.S.H.

P.U.S.H.

John and Tom, were athletes on a local team. On the first day of pre-season practice, their coach told them he had work for him to do, and showed them a large rock in front of the school. The coach explained that they were to push against the rock with all their might.

Having confidence in the coach, John began the task immediately; day after day. For months he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night John returned to his home sore and worn out and received phone calls from Tom, telling him that their whole day had been spent in vain.

Tom always prided himself in outsmarting the process. After working on the task for a few days he thought, "I have been pushing against that rock for many hours, and it hasn't moved." True to his swift thinking form, he quickly got the impression that the task was impossible and that he would not succeed. These thoughts naturally discouraged and disheartened Tom. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought, "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort, and that will be good enough. Not even a pro athlete could complete this drudgery."

Throughout the season John had noticed Tom's half-hearted efforts and finally decided to approach the coach. "Coach," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?" The coach responded compassionately, "My devoted and loyal player, when you joined the team, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done.

Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock.

Your calling was to be respectful and to push and to exercise your reliance and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. Now you are the strongest and most prepared player on the team."

At times, when we hear a coach speak and demand so much from us, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what he wants, when actually what the coach wants is just simple compliance and faith in him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong ... just P.U.S.H.!
When homework gets you down ... just P.U.S.H.!
When people don't react the way you think they should ... just P.U.S.H.!
When you lost a hard-fought game ... just P.U.S.H!
When parents just don't understand you ... just P.U.S.H.!

P = Pray
U = Until
S = Something
H = Happens