Surfing Past Setbacks
Bethany Hamilton was a rising star in the world of surfing. Born and raised in Hawaii, she showed exceptional talent from a young age, winning her first surf competition at just eight years old. Her dream was to become a professional surfer, but a life-changing event tested her determination.
At the age of 13, while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark. She lost her entire left arm in the attack, a devastating blow to anyone, let alone someone whose life revolved around surfing. Doctors told her that her surfing career was likely over. Most people would have given up on their dream in the face of such adversity.
But not Bethany.
Just one month after the attack, she was back in the water, determined to relearn how to surf with one arm. She faced immense physical and emotional challenges, including balancing on the board, paddling with one arm, and overcoming the fear of another shark attack. Despite these obstacles, she refused to give up. Through relentless practice and innovation, she adapted her surfing style and worked tirelessly to improve.
In less than two years, Bethany achieved what many thought was impossible. She won her first national surfing title, proving that persistence, grit, and determination could overcome even the most daunting setbacks. Today, she is not only a professional surfer but also an inspirational speaker, author, and advocate, inspiring millions with her story of resilience.
Persistence isn’t just about achieving goals, it’s about refusing to let setbacks define you. Bethany’s determination to overcome her physical limitations and fulfill her dream of surfing shows that persistence can turn even the most challenging situations into opportunities for growth and triumph.
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3-5, ESV).
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4, ESV).
The Most Boring Day in History?
Ask almost any question -- pick one, any question -- and the internet will likey have an answer for you. Case in point, some curiosity seeker asked the question, "Why is April 11, 1954 the most boring day in History?"
Good question. And the online answer gurus at wonderoplolis.org have an answer:
Imagine turning on the T.V., flipping to your favorite news channel, and giving the anchor your rapt attention, only to find that the day’s news was . . . nothing.
Can that happen? Can any day be that boring? According to computer programmer William Tunstall-Pedoe, yes, it can. And he’s even identified that incredibly boring day: April 11, 1954.
In 2010, Tunstall-Pedoe set out to identify the most boring day in history—or, at least, the most boring day in the 20th century. He used a search engine that he invented, called True Knowledge. The engine contained over 300 million individual facts.
Using an algorithm to scan through each day in the 20th century, Tunstall-Pedoe discovered that nothing of note happened on April 11, 1954. That is, unless you’re Turkish engineering professor Abdullah Atalar, who was born that day. An athlete named Jack Shufflebotham of England also passed away. No other well-known people were born or died.
There also don’t seem to be any noteworthy news stories from around the world. No major events from the stock market, sporting events, or NASA. No major films were even released that day.
But maybe Tunstall-Pedoe is wrong. Maybe other search sources found some newsworthy items from that day. But, sadly, no ...
"Perhaps it was, indeed, the most boring day in history," reports wonderopolis (or at least the most boring day of the 20th Century).
Yet, that said, they suggest there is another contender for the dubious title: April 18. 1930 ...
On April 18, 1930, people across England tuned their radios to the BBC for the evening news. The report? “There is no news,” read the announcer. 15 minutes of piano music followed the report.
Wonderopolis concludes:
Have you ever had a boring day? Everyone does from time to time. But it seems that some days are boring for the entire world!
But are they right? Is there really any such thing as an utterly boring, unnotworthy day? Certainly in light of God's Kingdom, creation, and calling, there is no such thing as an unnoteworthy day.
Each day is filled with purpose. Divine purpose. Divine opportunity to make a noteworthy impact. Each day is filled with a thousand little things that just might escape our notice if we are not fine-tuned, not to a news station, but fine-tuned into the heart of God.
We can be a part of making the news. In fact, we are created to be a part of making the news, of spreading the news! As we little by little impact the lives of the people, communities, and institutions around us, we are building a story -- a story for the ages!
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10, ESV).
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV).
Step Out of the Waiting Places
An education blogger recently posted a very poignant lesson learned from, none other than, the eternally wise Dr. Seuss:
Sure, he wrote “kids books”, but I never doubt for a moment the lessons his books can teach us adults as well. Dr. Seuss urges kids (and all of us) to stay out of the waiting place…
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.
once more you’ll ride high!
AJ Juliani is founder and chief-editor of Education Is My Life and The Best & Next in Education. He currently work as an Education and Technology Innovation Specialist.
Julian observes that it takes a combination of great curiosity AND great courage to step out of the “waiting” places and into the realm of unknown possibilities and opportunities. Indeed, fear and complacency can be equally paralyzing.
One can go through life waiting for opportunities to come their way…but chances are slim that they will unless you go out and grab them yourself. Now I try to live my life with courage, looking for opportunities and giving myself time to be curious. … Don’t let yourself stay in that waiting place. Be curious. Be courageous.
“He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus” (Mathew 14:29).
“Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:6, NLT).
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT).