Determination. A quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult....Firmness of purpose....The act of coming to a decision and sticking with it. Winston Churchill certainly knew this topic well when he said "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never- in nothing, great or small, large or petty-never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." Churchill also said "I am easily satisfied with the very best."
This part year we have watched our San Antonio Spurs' eyes fixed on one goal. From the beginning of the season they have had a firmness of purpose. They have come to a decision and stuck with it. Win the NBA championship. It all started back in 2013 on the very bad, no good night that San Antonio folks refer to as Game 6. Game 6 of the 2013 finals to be exact. In the last minutes of Game 6, yellow security ropes were set out on the American Airlines floor in Miami, ready to crown the Spurs with the championship. A five-point lead with less than 30 seconds seemed like a solid enough lead. Then everything went extremely south. Very south. Ray Allen's miracle 3 pointer with 5.2 seconds left will always leave a bad taste in the mouth of all of us who love our Spurs.
Tim Duncan emulates Winston Churchill's famous quote. His calm demeanor and shy personality didn't keep him from speaking out boldly once they knew they were finals bound. He said "We've got four more to win. We'll do it this time." That is determination. Coach Pop, Tim Duncan and the entire San Antonio Spurs have been determined. They refuse to let another championship slip by. The past is the past. When each and every player speaks, they speak with one goal in mind. Nothing more; nothing less. We are here to win a championship. We all are savoring this amazing time with the Spurs. But don't miss the valuable lessons of leadership, hard will, determination, grit, overcoming adversity and fortitude demonstrated by our Spurs. Last year, at this time, our Spurs team were devastated. Undone. Heartbroken. Can you imagine watching Game 6 over and over and over in the first team practice of the year?
You and I have also had our "Game Sixes" in our own life. Those times where we've been brought to the end of ourselves. So devastated that we wondered how we would pick ourselves up. We lacked hope. We didn't see a future or hope. We could only see the problem, the issue, the hurt, the pain that somehow got way too big. How do we get past this?
We can not only be proud of our Spurs, but learn from them. Their Game 6 could have forever haunted them. But it didn't. They were determined to move on. To rise about it. To learn from it. To fight back. And they did. What about you? How have you experienced devastation? Defeat? Discouragement? Our God is in the business of helping pick us up from our game sixes of life. He is able to give you a future and a hope. But you must also be determined to do your best as well. As you start your day, name your defeat. Ask God to help give you help and hope for a new beginning. Partner with God to rise above your circumstance. Seek out a trusted friend to confide and share your need. God is big enough to help you get through ANYTHING. There is no Game Six that He can't help you get through. Just ask our NBA Champions....the San Antonio Spurs!!!!!!!
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
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