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{SFTH} *Another Way to Win* 3/29/01
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Another Way to Win
By Rubel Shelly
Kay Poe and Esther Kim have been best friends since they were seven
years old. Among other things they have in common, the two young ladies
from Houston both compete at the highest levels in taekwondo. How good
are they? Esther and Kay advanced to the finals in the Women's Olympic
Flyweight division at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials on May 20 in
Colorado Springs.
"I don't think of her as just a friend. I think of her more as a
sister," Kay says. "We've grown up together, and we always push each
other and help each other out the best we can training wise." What a
story was unfolding! Reporters and photographers were poised to record
the outcome of so intense a competition between two girls who have been
close for so long. But a sports story would soon be overshadowed by a
far more important friendship story.
Kay had dislocated her left kneecap in her semi-final match of the
round robin tournament. Though ranked number one in the world at her
sport, it was questionable that she could compete against her best
friend. She could barely stand, so it was a foregone conclusion that
Esther would win, travel to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, and
represent the United States in the international competition these two
had trained and worked toward for so long.
On the day of the match, Esther Kim shocked the crowd
by forfeiting rather than defeat her friend in an unfair competition.
In allowing the better taekwondo fighter to represent the United States
in Sydney, she won a personal battle over ego and selfishness. Amidst
frequent stories of cheating and taking unfair advantage in order to
win at any price, Esther showed how to win by losing.
"Even though I didn't have the gold medal around me," said Esther, "for
the first time in my life, I felt like a real champion." Her generosity
of spirit was honored with the Citizenship Through Sports Award and
with an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2000 Olympic Games from the
International Olympic Committee.
In the Bible, Paul wrote about giving up certain "rights" for the sake
of people he loved (see 1 Corinthians 9:1-15). Parents do it all the
time for their children. And occasionally friends make magnanimous
gestures like Esther's.
The next time you are inclined to bemoan the selfishness of the masses,
recall this story of a twenty-year-old athlete's largess. The next time
you have the chance to show magnanimity, let it inspire you to rise to
the level of her example.
Rubel Shelly
whcoc@edge.net
Send Rubel an email and let him know what you thought about his story!
(c) 2000 Rubel Shelly. Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly's
"FAX of Life" printed each Tuesday. See
<http://www.faithmatters.com> for previous issues of the "FAX of Life."
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Rubel Shelly has preached for the Woodmont Hills Church of Christ in Nashville since 1978. During that time, he has also taught at David Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He is the author of more than 20 books, including several which have been translated into languages such as Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Russian. He is married to the former Myra Shappley, and they are the parents of three children: Mrs. David (Michelle) Arms, Tim, and Tom.
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Thought For The Day:
"You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who
will never be able to repay you." -- John Wooden
Verse for the Day:
"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such
sacrifices God is pleased." -- Hebrews 13:16
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair."
Parent's Thought For The Day:
"Parents can plant magic in a child's mind through certain words spoken
with some thrilling quality of voice, some uplift of the heart and spirit."
--Robert Macneil
Coach's Thought For The Day:
"Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times
out of ten and be considered a good performer." --Ted Williams
Deep Thought For The Day:
"The only people to get even with are those that have helped you."
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_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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