Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: googled (04/10/14)
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TITLE: GOD IT! | Previous Challenge Entry
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04/17/14 -
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When I grew up in the 1960’s, there were no electronic diversions. Google was known as an infinite numeral and Yahoo slang for a wild country boy. For me sports were king.
Entering high school I was a skinny kid. Nevertheless my heroes were football players; rugged men who dished out and received pain and violence. In front of raging crowds, they bellowed their manhood so to move a ball a few yards toward a goal. I so wanted to be one of them.
My Jewish mother would not hear of it. “You’re too thin you’ll get hurt.” Hence I signed up for Soccer. It was a sport at least, second rate in my book. The real men went out for football.
I didn’t know much about soccer. And after a few weeks of training my teammates, coaches and I knew, I was a lousy soccer player. It was the first or second practice game before the regular season began, when the unexpected occurred. During the game our goaltender got injured. Coach had no replacement in the wings. He glanced about those on the bench and centered his focus on me. “You, you’re tall, wanna play goalie?” I replied with a vertical nod, “I’ll try.”
Clench-mouthed, flex kneed, arms ready positioned like a wrestler before the long rectangular goal frame, fate positioned me as the last bastion of defense, keeper and master of the goal preventing all that should dare to break its plane. “At least I know what to do here. If the ball comes near, grab it.”
Eventually an opponent broke though the defense headed my way. He was small and quick. With precision he moved the ball along the ground left foot, right foot completely under control. I instinctively moved forward to attack this intruder, diving at his feet as he took his shot. The ball smacked my jaw like heavyweight’s punch and deflected out of bounds.
I got up off the ground to see the coach running out on the field his arms waving and screaming,”Unbelievable what gut’s! What a save, you are our goalie son, by the way are you alright?” I flipped my jawbone right to left feeling the bone crackling and softly replied, “Fine.”
The next few months, at school were glorious. Coach, who also taught Biology, spread the account of my courageous effort. I was headed for super-stardom. It was 15 minutes of high school sports fame, and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of my new role as super-jock.
We had a great team. When the real season schedule began I didn’t have to make a bunch of saves to rack up six consecutive shutouts. Yeah, in time I learned the finer points of goaltending, even played with the varsity for awhile; all along my head swelling larger, though not from it being kicked in weeks before.
The season continued. As a team we were undefeated, about to play another undefeated team in our conference for the un-official freshman conference championship.
“No worries just do what you’ve done already and it’ll be fine.” I thought as I took my position on the field launched by coach’s pat on my tush. The first half was a scoreless tie. “Good enough hang in there.”
The game was nearly over. As the seconds peeled off the clock, bursting toward me came a player with the ball in a breakaway. It was identical to the scene that won me goaltender job months ago. I figured to handle this situation the same way. But a thought came. “What if I don’t time it right? I’d look like a fool and this guy could squib the ball in on an untended goal. I better move back.” I retreated; he feinted one direction but kicked a grounder strait at me. By time I reacted the ball was through my legs, and in the goal. Game lost.
The long silent bus ride home was prophetic of the vanishing glory to come. I would be years until I would realize and appreciate the lessons learned when caught in the trap of self-glorification.
Today, I daresay many glory in the snare of the “all-knowing” computer god, with its false prophetic search engines. For answers, “Google it.” is the first choice of action. Isn’t the ultimate and true search engine GOD. Looking for answers, why not click on Jesus and GOD IT?
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My only critique is that the connection to the theme could have been stronger. There was a lead about Google in the beginning, and then a mention at the end, but the end almost felt forced, like you tried to make Google fit into it.
Keep writing, friend. You have a way with words.
Great job!
God bless~