You are not the Underdog

    The Elah Valley; where Lindy slung stones, Dr. Strathearne's class sang an epic song about the Shephelah, oh ya, and David slew Goliath. Apparently my Ancient Near East Studies professor, Dr. Chadwick, is an amazing sling shottist. He showed off a few of his skills and then let us give it a go. I got to keep a few rocks from the brook that David got his stones from! 

The mast himself

     Dr. Chadwick also surprised us with the news that he's in a band. For reals. They play in fairs and everything. He wrote us an awesome song to remember the story of David and Goliath and how to pronounce Shephelah (the area it happened in.) It's one of those songs that just gets stuck in your head for days on end. 

I found this on the internet. This is Dr. Chadwick rocking it in his band. 

     

     Now what you've really been waiting for. David and Goliath. The Israelites were fighting the Philistines (what's new there) and most of David's brothers were in the war. His dad sent David, the little brother (who happens to be a redhead), with a few supplies to go give them. They all thought he just came because he wanted to see what was going on. Upon arriving, he found out that the Israelites had been challenged. Each side was supposed to send out their best fighter and whoever won, won the battle. The Philistines sent out a giant! He was probably about 7'10'' ugly (I'm sure he was ugly) and mean. No Israelite wanted to go out and fight him. Along comes young David, sees the guy and immediately tells the king that he can win. No one believes him! How could this young boy beat the giant!? But David assured them he could. 

    So out he goes to the valley. Goliath saw him coming and laughed in his face. This is who they chose to send out?? This little boy! He didn't even have a weapon--all he had was a shepherds bag and a stick. Goliath was sure that he had this in the bag. Little did he know that David was not an amateur. He was an expert at the sling shot. He could probably sling a rock up to 90 mph. In fact, he had already killed a bear and a lion with that sling. Goliath never had a chance. 

    I love looking at the story this way. David was not the underdog. He knew going into it that he would win. We have all the tools we need to beat our Goliaths. It might not look like we've got a lot going for us, but I think we've all killed a lion or two in our lives. We are better than we might give ourself credit for. So remember the next time you feel discouraged or are faced with a temptation, you are not the underdog. That trial doesn't know what's about to hit it! 

Until my next adventure,

Lindy