Underdog

Yesterday in the early morning hours just as the light began to illuminate the sky, I looked up and saw a hawk flying as hard as its wings could take it.  In hot pursuit were two mockingbirds who were ridiculously small in comparison.  Their high pitched shrills and aggressive behavior made it apparent that they didn't see their small size as an impediment to the business at hand. What would they do if they actually caught the hawk? I have no idea, but I do know the hawk was not willing to stop and find out.

I love the underdog. The Atlanta Braves were my team way before they began to win pennants. I find myself picking the little guy almost every time over the looming giant. Shoot, I cheer for Wake Forest University in every sport - that should tell you something!  There's just something about rooting for a team or an individual who are less in the eyes of most people.  And when the underdog comes out on top, the whole world takes notice.

It's okay not to be the best at everything (or anything at all for that matter). There a lot of cheesy cliches I could throw out right now that I won't put you through, but I think you get the gist of what I'm trying to say. There is something powerful and beautiful in the triumphs of those who have been deemed too small or too stupid or too limited. The story of Gideon in Judges 6-8 is compelling because of the fact that this guy was too small and seemingly  insignificant to defeat the hordes of Midianites that lay before his 300-strong army, yet that's exactly what happened. Nobody gave David much of a chance against Goliath but we all know how that turned out. The Bible is full of stories about men and women who did incredible things for God that no one thought possible.

That's how God works. He's not really all that interested in those who feel like the world can't function correctly without them and their abilities. If you are a follower of Christ you probably understand this pretty well, even though most of us are still prone to favor (at least secretly) the biggest and the strongest. Yet our God is the champion of the underdog. In fact, He put on flesh to come to earth as the ultimate underdog in the world's eyes. They were looking for a hero leader but instead they got a humble servant who just happen to save the world.

I still love that story.