Multi-titled NBA coach Pat Riley, in his book, The Winner Within shared a story of how the Los Angeles Lakers ended their 1983 supposed dream season into a nightmarish ending.
The Lakers were slapping high-fives and were expected to bowl over their opponents every game until rookie forward James Worthy suffered a leg injury during the last day of regular season that kept him out of the post-season games.
After Worthy, the Lakers’ two other notable offensive weapons—Bob McAdoo and guard Norm Nixon suffered injuries of their own during the playoffs, leaving the Lakers without three of their best support cast going into the NBA Finals opposite the Philadelphia 76ers.
But here’s the thing—Riley recalled how strong the team was even without the three injured players considering that they still had three of their best players in the league—center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, forward Jamal Wilkes and point guard Magic Johnson.
Yet, the injuries, which Riley calls the “Thunderbolt” experience of the Lakers, struck them thrice. And he admitted that instead of responding to the challenges, they were resigned to the fact that their chase for back-to-back NBA titles may not happen anymore.
That defeated mindset allowed the 76ers to sweep them in the NBA Finals via a 4-0 series score.
Like what happened to the Lakers, we all have our own “thunderbolt” experiences in life as well.
Academic woes like a failing mark in a subject you dread, you got retrenched from your job, your dad’s business went bankrupt, perhaps, you grandma, who was closest to you, suddenly fell ill.
These are “thunderbolts” that may strike anytime.
But how we respond to these situations is what truly matter.
The Apostle Paul had numerous “thunderbolt” experiences during his numerous missionary trips as well.
Consider these “thunderbolt” experiences Paul had as a missionary—(1 Corinthians 11:23-27) I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
But in all these, Paul never recanted his faith, never blamed God for all the trials that went with his trips. Instead, towards the latter part of his life, this was his testimony to Timothy, whom he mentored in the faith: 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)
Thunderbolts are part of life, but hopefully, when they come, like Paul, we’ll fight the good fight of faith, we will finish the race, we will keep the faith.
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