Impossible! I think Not!`

Let me share two examples in the which two groups of people were placed in circumstances where their dreams looked impossible.  They did not however allow that to slow them down or stop them, and because of that they accomplished their dreams. 

First, have you ever heard of Panyee?  Me neather until I watched this movie about some boys on their small floating village who had a dream.  Circumstance tried to destroy their dream before it even began, but dreams are not made when circumstances are perfect. 

Second, Carl Joseph was a boy that did not let his circumstances limit his dreams. He was born with one leg into a single parent household and in poverty. He was the fourth of ten children. He grew up on a tabacoo farm in Florida. Carl with these circumstances could have thrown away his dreams of playing sports, but he would not allow himself to. Carl played basketball, football, and track. He excelled in all of them. In basketball he could dunk the ball even thou he was only 6'1" tall. He was known for swatting the opponenets ball into the stands. In football he was the team captian and a starter. While playing nose tackle he would hop to make tackles.  In his greatest game he made over 11 tackles and blocked a punt. He went on to play college football at Bethune Cookman College.   In track Carl jumped 5'10" in the high jump. Carl still made honor role with all of these activities.

Carl accomplished all of this on 1 leg.

Former NFL star Dan Dieford said this in reference to Carl, "the most amazing athlete I’ve ever seen.” Here is a video of Carl playing football.

The only one that makes something impossible is ourselves.

Finish or Bust

3,000 meter steeplechase is one of the most physically demanding events one can do on a track. It involves seven laps around the track. Spread around the track are four dry hurdles and one hurdle with water on the far side. By the end of the race each runner has jumped 28 dry hurdles, seven water traps, and ran a little under two miles. This sport originated in the British Isles where runners would run from steeple to steeple. While running from steeple to steeple the runner would have to jump obstacles such as rock walls. Slowly this race evolved from 3,200 (2 miles) meters to 3,000 meters and from rough terrain to flat. The race was then added to the Olympics. This race is one of the most grueling races because of the distance, pace, and obstacles one must jump while going around the track.

At the beginning of such a hard race the task may seem daunting. As one slowly completes jumps after jump and lap after lap their muscles get tired and fatigued. Often the athlete have to just focus on clearing the next hurdle or running the next 100 meters.

Our life is much like a steeplechase. There are many hurdles to jump. There are times in the races when we are relaxed and on a straight away. There are times when we are striving to clear a hurdle. There are times a hurdle seems too big for one to jump. There are times the race ahead seems to daunting to conquer. Let us remember Christ has run the race before us. He knows it perfectly, and as our loving coach He will not lead us astray if we listen to His tender voice.

As we finish it will be well worth the tears, sweat, and strength it took to finish the race.  For we have been changed into a champion in the process.