David and Goliath

I used to fully buy into the common belief regarding David and Goliath.  You know, that a small weak person can overcome overwhelming odds and obstacles if you have enough faith.  

That it was merely David’s faith in God that gave him the hutzpah to walk out in front of the Israelite Army and face the Philistine’s champion.  It was his faith in God that lead him to pick up a stone, use his sling to accurately zing it at Goliath’s un-helmeted head, and then to walk over pick up Goliath’s sword and cut Goliath’s head off.  

Faith.  Faith in a true God.  That’s it, just faith. 

Nonsense I say.  

Sure, faith played a part and God played a part, but I think the story is a bit different.  I think a key bit of information is commonly ignored. I think the truth is obscured in favor of a story that makes people feel good inside and reinforce an unproductive mentality. 

“With faith all things are possible, right? Just look at David and Goliath!”you say

Well, yes but really no.

No, because David was probably a badass.  David wasn’t some weak kneed frail little boy that was magically gifted with courage and ferociousness and strength at the perfect time.  David was a veteran of life and death battles.  David had stared down enemies that wanted nothing more than to devour him and those he protected.  David was at risk every day and every night leading up to him coming to that battlefield.  

You see, David was a shepherd.  David was a shepherd with a family that had left David alone with the flock.  It is my guess that when his Dad presented his brothers to the prophet Samuel to be the next king that wasn’t the first time he was left alone.  In fact, his Dad doesn’t even think twice about presenting him as the possible next king! David was disposable.

So, it is my guess that David spent a fair amount of time protecting the flock and trying to gain his Dad’s favor by making sure the flock was always safe.  I bet he never lost a single lamb, but I bet he had some epic battles keeping his flock safe!

During David’s time he would have had to face lions, bears, wolves, panthers, hyenas, jackals, and of course other humans.  David wasn’t frail and meek!  David had strong broad shoulders from carrying all that responsibility.  

“Okay, cool. So, what is the point?”you ask

Here is the point. David was able to beat Goliath because he was prepared.  

God absolutely had a plan, but just not the one that most people assume.  The story we love to hear allows us to be soft and still win.  It relies on intercession by some greater power to deliver victory.  That is a fallacy.  I think that is a whisper of deceit from the father of lies and I see the outcome of that belief every day.  

Life today is too easy. 

“What!?!” you say“Maybe for you it is Capt. Fatty Pants; all sitting there behind your laptop with your coffee!  But for me, I have struggles!” 

Okay first off, I am not saying each individual person’s life is too easy.  That would be foolish, but for the vast majority of people, it is. 

Quick question, “What is your most valuable resource?”

The answer: Time.

Time is your absolute most valuable resource.  More valuable than money, than your talents, than your financial assets, than your network. It is top of the pops.  Why, because it is finite, and the quantity is unknown.  You ain’t getting anymore and you may run out tomorrow.  Additionally, you tend to trade time for all of the other resources. 

In fact, the most glaring example is in physical health.  Most people’s lives are so physically easy that in order to stay healthy they must dedicate their time and their money (a doubling up of time) to inflict artificial difficulty in their lives at a gym.  Running on a treadmill, lifting dumbbells all in the name of offsetting a life that is harmfully effortless.  I was in Virginia Beach recently and the hotel walls near the elevator had old photos of the area enlarged as wall coverings.  The photos were really cool, they were of the beach area in the 40’s and 50’s with people swimming and surfing.  One of the most interesting things though was that everyone was lean.  Six-pack lean.  Not just most of the people, but all of the people!

Now I am sure that there are numerous reasons, quality and quantity of food, complexity and stress of everyday life, longer work days etc.  I bet some of it though is the level of physical exertion related to everyday life.  Not everyone had a car.  Not everyone had a desk job.  No one had a riding lawn mower.  People had to work, to labor.  People had to hand wash dishes, hand wash laundry, all kinds of physical activity. And guess what, they were pretty healthy.  Now a days, life itself doesn’t allow for that level of activity.  Work days are longer, commutes are longer, desk jobs tend to be the norm.  

Food is abundant and life is so physically easy!  However, we are not really healthy.  

Okay before I derail this too far, I am going to get back to the point of the post.  Let’s try for a moment or a year or maybe a lifetime to embrace the difficult.  Let’s turn from the easy or the simple and look for the challenging.  Perhaps we should thank our bosses for the last-minute rush job presentation.  Sure, it doesn’t sound fun and in the moment it can kinda suck, but how else are you going to be prepared to slay that giant in your future if you can’t knock down paper targets today.  Let’s stop bitching and start showing gratitude.  I have to believe that even just by flipping the mental switch we are moving in the right direction.  

In no way do I believe that this is easy.  In fact, nearly every aspect of our lives is focused on making things easier.  I am pretty sure that it is in our genetic code to strive for efficiency.  From a survival aspect, it makes sense.  Less output means a decreased need for input, but this isn’t the Paleolithic period, even if eating that way makes a bit sense.  

I am in no way saying that I have this sorted out.  I am just as guilty as the next person, likely guiltier, but every journey starts with a single step.  

Forward, March!