In high school I played Water Polo. I came from a small school with an even smaller water polo team. I made the varsity team because someone was worse than me. But I held my spot for four years. Guys I played against would go onto play at college level and I think one guy made the Olympics.
Water Polo is like soccer and basketball and controlled drowning combined. Like basketball it is supposed to be non-contact but the truth is any thing the referee doesn't see becomes fair game. A punch to the kidneys or a pinch inside the upper arm or a good back kick to the groin. I could keep up with the fastest swimmer by raking my elbow down his side and make it look like a normal swim stroke.
This type of play usually ended up with a brief exchange at the end of the game. Which may or may not result in a coach or two getting wet and more than one of us with black eyes and bloodied noses. This was a blessing because my parents didn't allow fighting so when I would get beat up at school I could put off my wounds to water polo.
The scars I still bear are the feelings of frustration and anger issues I still have. It's hard to shake the feelings of helplessness you have when faced with a bigger stronger opponent. But I have found that when you know that you are guaranteed a win all those feelings of inadequacy fade away.
What if you could find a book that had the outcome to your life? What if I told you where I found that book and where you could find it also? Don't stop reading yet. That book is the Bible and it holds your future. When you see this life is not hopeless you can see it in a new light.
God bless. See you soon.
Read more articles by Russell Harris or search for articles on the same topic or others.
