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Continue with Courage - it's
NOT over!
Ever felt like giving up?
If we're being completely transparent, we've all had times when we
felt disconnected, distraught, disillusioned or discouraged to the
point of giving up. Some are feeling that way right now for a
variety of reasons; possibly due to their current business, financial
or family circumstances.
I hope this story will
serve to offer courage and hope to others as it did for me when I
heard it. (The specific facts of
this event are on Wikipedia.com. This version by Haddon W.
Robinson- sermonillustrations.com)
"On New
Year's Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played University of California
in the Rose Bowl. In that game a man named Roy Riegels recovered a
fumble for California.
Somehow, he became confused and started running 65 yards in the
wrong direction. One of his teammates, Benny Lom, outdistanced him
and downed him just before he scored for the opposing team. When California
attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety which
was the ultimate margin of victory.
That strange play
came in the first half, and everyone who was watching the game was
asking the same question: "What will Coach Nibbs Price do with
Roy Riegels in the second half?" The men filed off the field
and went into the dressing room. They sat down on the benches and
on the floor, all but Riegels. He put his blanket around his
shoulders, sat down in a corner, put his face in his hands, and
cried like a baby.
If you have played
football, you know that a coach usually has a great deal to say to
his team during half time. That day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt
he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels. Then the
timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes
before playing time. Coach Price looked at the team and said
simply, "Men the same team that played the first half will
start the second." The players got up and started out, all but
Riegels. He did not budge. The coach looked back and called to him
again; still he didn't move. Coach Price went over to where Riegels
sat and said, "Roy,
didn't you hear me? The same team that played the first half will
start the second." Then Roy Riegels looked up and his cheeks
were wet with a strong man's tears. "Coach," he said,
"I can't do it to save my life. I've ruined you, I've ruined
the University
of California,
I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to
save my life." Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand
on Riegel's shoulder and said to him: "Roy, get up and go on back; the
game is only half over." And Roy Riegels went back, and those
Tech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play
football as Roy Riegels played that second half."
How will you play the
second half? Two choices: give up or get up. Giving up and
giving in to feelings of doubt and fear will defeat us every single
time. Instead, as both Roy Riegels and Coach Price did, if we
get up and continue with courage, it means we take what we've
learned through the tough times and become more determined (and focused) than ever. So, let's put on the
helmet, get back out there and play the best second half of our
lives!
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