UNDERDOGS

From My Perspective - - -

In life, most of us have met or seen an underdog – perhaps, even had the sense at times that we were one. An underdog is “…a person who is expected to lose in a contest or conflict; one who is a victim of social or political injustice…” The expectation for the “underdog” is low and the possibility of breaking out of that mold is unlikely and remote. Many are relegated to thinking that it would require a “miracle” for one’s circumstance or situation to be anything other than what it is – impossible and/or a lost cause. Have you ever felt that way?

One of my favorite sporting events occurred in the 1980 Olympics. It is recorded for posterity in the following description: “…the Miracle on Ice – the United States hockey team’s victory over the Soviet Union in the semifinals of the 1980 Winter Olympics. The odds were against the Americans in so many ways. They were a group of untested college and amateur players in a culture that was hardly hockey-centric, and they entered the 1980 Games as the seventh seed amongst 12 teams. The Soviets, meanwhile, were essentially full-time hockey players who had played together for years, and they were representing a country which had produced eight of the last nine gold medalists in the sport. The two countries were rivals in every sense of the word, with the political differences between them serving to further the meeting between the two teams on the ice. And to top it all off, the USSR and USA had already played each other in 1980, with the Americans suffering a 10-3 thrashing in a February exhibition match. If they played 100 times, the Soviet Union probably would have won 99 times. But they only played once, and on that day, the United States was the better team, winning 4-3 in what Sports Illustrated has called the greatest sporting moment of the 20th century…” Who can forget the sportscaster who kept repeating the phrase: “Do you believe in miracles?” It was a moment when almost certain defeat became a victory and where the powerful lost to the weaker.

Currently, in the realm of politics, we have an incumbent who ran on the theme of Hope and Change portraying himself as the Underdog (in terms of finances) in his pursuit of a second term. NEWSMAX reports: “A Blog Post on the Obama/Biden 2012 website rolled out the Obama Event Registry, which asks anyone with an upcoming birthday, wedding, or anniversary to "support the President on your big day by asking for donation money in lieu of a gift - Got a birthday, anniversary, or wedding coming up? Let your friends know how important this election is to you—register with Obama 2012, and ask for a donation in lieu of a gift. It’s a great way to support the President on your big day. Plus, it’s a gift that we can all appreciate—and goes a lot further than a gravy bowl." Is this an indication of one projecting himself as an “underdog”; or an act of desperation;  or just more narcissistic behavior?

If you have ever felt that you were an “underdog”, you should endeavor to have hope and confidence in the Lord. While there are many illustrations for reference, a notable one is David and Goliath. In I Samuel 17:8-11, the gravity of the situation is stated: “Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us. Then the Philistine said, This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other. On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.” In this instance, the underdog – Israel is described as being “dismayed and terrified.” The scene changes in Verses 42-47 when David steps forward to face Goliath – “Goliath looked David over and saw that he was only a boy… and he despised him.  He said to David: Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks? …David said to the Philistine: You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty…This day the Lord will hand you over to me…and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” David was triumphant! Do you believe in miracles? You don’t need to be an “underdog” – you can be a victor rather than a victim! Put your hope and confidence in the Lord alone and always! Consider these things with me!