This weekend my son competed in his first Swimming Club Championship Gala. Last minute advice issued, my stomach churned as he mounted the starting blocks for the Under 9s fifty metres breaststroke. Fifty-eight seconds later, he had stormed to victory in his heat; we later discovered he had taken the trophy for the overall Under 9s event. Riding high on this victory, he headed for the backstroke. This time he trailed behind his competitors and, slightly misjudging the finish, found himself disqualified for turning onto his front before he reached the end.
Once he had recovered from the disappointment (with the help of a Double Decker), we reflected on the lessons learned that extended far beyond swimming to all of life. Although disqualification was a huge disappointment, it was a lesson learned. He could let it beat him and give up – or shrug it off and learn from it. We regaled our own experiences of disqualification from sporting events to make him see that we have all had those moments where it has gone completely wrong for us – and had a choice to make as a result: quit or learn from it and keep growing. By bedtime he was smiling again, looking forward to the next competition.
This point is brilliantly illustrated in the newly released film, ‘Despicable Me 3.’ A little girl goes searching for a unicorn in a forest. She returns home with a one horned goat, delighted with her find. As her father sits down with her to point out the true identity of her new pet, he delivers the inspired line: “My darling, that is life – you hope for a Unicorn and what you get is a goat!” Instead of crumpling, as the audience expects, she jumps up joyfully, declaring she loves it anyway and begs to keep it.
Some of our ‘goats’ are bigger than others and their disappointing presence in our lives can be hard to accept. We don’t want to keep them and make the best of it – we would prefer a unicorn! But we don’t have to shoulder their burden alone. “In this world you will have trouble,” Jesus said, “but take heart, for I have overcome the world.” If we let Jesus walk with us, he will help us go forward, change our perspective and give us a hope that carries us through this life and into the next, however many times we are disqualified or find ourselves in possession of a goat!
Once he had recovered from the disappointment (with the help of a Double Decker), we reflected on the lessons learned that extended far beyond swimming to all of life. Although disqualification was a huge disappointment, it was a lesson learned. He could let it beat him and give up – or shrug it off and learn from it. We regaled our own experiences of disqualification from sporting events to make him see that we have all had those moments where it has gone completely wrong for us – and had a choice to make as a result: quit or learn from it and keep growing. By bedtime he was smiling again, looking forward to the next competition.
This point is brilliantly illustrated in the newly released film, ‘Despicable Me 3.’ A little girl goes searching for a unicorn in a forest. She returns home with a one horned goat, delighted with her find. As her father sits down with her to point out the true identity of her new pet, he delivers the inspired line: “My darling, that is life – you hope for a Unicorn and what you get is a goat!” Instead of crumpling, as the audience expects, she jumps up joyfully, declaring she loves it anyway and begs to keep it.
Some of our ‘goats’ are bigger than others and their disappointing presence in our lives can be hard to accept. We don’t want to keep them and make the best of it – we would prefer a unicorn! But we don’t have to shoulder their burden alone. “In this world you will have trouble,” Jesus said, “but take heart, for I have overcome the world.” If we let Jesus walk with us, he will help us go forward, change our perspective and give us a hope that carries us through this life and into the next, however many times we are disqualified or find ourselves in possession of a goat!
Really good once again. At least a goat is real, unicorns are only fantasy!
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