You don't throw a whole life away just 'cause it's banged up a little

The other night, I watched "Seabiscuit" with four friends. It is the true-story of a David horse with a Goliath heart, a country which at the time had been building exponently on the American dream, and the people whose dream had been recently shattered by it's own drive.

It's a story of some unlikely heros

* Seabiscuit "the Biscuit" - a down and out, left for broken, thorough-bred race horse
* Johnny "Red" Pollard - a partially-blind, beaten up rider abandoned as a child by his depression-suffering family
* Charles Howard - a millionaire who had lost everthing: his money, his relationships, his progeny
* Tom Smith - the quiet and mysterious horse trainer whose free-range heart had been barbed by American progress

I was reminded of how different each one was from the other and it was their differences that helped each other so greatly. And how their loyalty to one another ensured their success. And the success of Seabiscuit would not have happened without each one of them. They really didn't set out to find each other; it just happened that way - serendipity (or might I say providence) at its finest. They each had traveled, at some point, from the bottom of the heap to the top. That's probably why Seabiscuit resonated with so many people... that's the way America especially likes to crown its champions... those who have fought and clawed their way to the top.

However, the fifth unlikely hero is the one of whom I want to make the most mention. Because he did not necessarily climb the ladder up... in fact, he climbed the ladder down.

* George Woolf - a gifted jockey who was willing to step back to help another friend step up

Woolf was a generous man and a good friend to Red Pollard. When Pollard was injured in a near-fatal accident, Pollard recommended Woolf take his place on top of Seabiscuit in an important race. And when Woolf rode Seabiscuit to victory, he was asked how it felt to win. From the horses mount, Woolf's response was something like, "I only wish my friend Red Pollard could be here to enjoy it instead of me". I was glad-hearted to hear such a humble response. And when in one of the last races they would do together, it was Woolf that slowed down in a race to let Pollard and Seabiscuit catch up and give Seabiscuit the determination to kick it in a higher gear (Pollard and Woolf knew that, when challenged, Seabiscuit would press to victory)! Woolf's actions spoke volumes to me. Jockeys had to win to stay in the game. But Woolf took a step back to help a friend up.

I'm reminded of something Louie Giglio wrote a long time ago (January 2001). Check it out here --> http://www.passionnow.org/lgjournal011701.htm

In it, he talks about his own ascent to the top of the Matterhorn. But that was only half (although the foremost in his mind at the time) of the battle. But the way down would provide the most insight.

the christian life is a continual journey to new lows of greatness. His call is
simple... humble yourself and become as small as you are so that Christ in you
can be as big as He is. with the world, all the glory is in getting up. with
God, it's all in getting down.

You don't throw a whole life away just 'cause it's banged up a little. And I suppose when you know where you're going, it doesn't matter what it looks like.


All for now,
Lisa