CALIFORNIA HELPING WRONG WAY DRIVERS
The highway department is installing solar powered warning lights at many freeway off-ramps to help prevent drivers from going the wrong way.
Reading this article about people going the wrong way reminded me of a story about former NFL Minnesota Vikings defensive player, Jim Marshall. He made history one day because he went the wrong way.
In a nationally televised football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Marshall recovered a 49er fumble and ran it back 66 yards into the end zone. The only problem was, he had gone the wrong way. To make matters worse, before he learned of the mistake. he enthusiastically spiked the ball and it bounced out of bounds. Officials ruled it a safety and gave the 49ers two points. Jim said that…
“The shame of going the wrong way was overpowering.
It was one of the most devastating moments of my life.”
During half-time Jim thought…
“I can either live in the misery of this mistake
or I can do something about it.”
Pulling himself together, he went out and in the second half played some of his best football ever. His recovery of another 49er fumble led to the winning touchdown and a great team victory.
But Jim did not stop there. Instead of letting this negative experience define him, he took control and created something positive out of the situation. He began speaking to groups about rebounding from disasters and mistakes.
Recently a close friend of mine shared how he had also been going the wrong way. Even though his financial life was prospering, his personal life was in shambles.
I told him…
“You can’t go back and change the past,
but you can start where you are now
and change the future.”
I went on and exclaimed that…
“Until you change your thinking
you will continue to recycle your
actions, feelings, and experiences.”
I was so proud of him as he placed himself on a 30-day program of changing his thinking, as well as some of his habits.
Maybe in some area of your life you have been going the wrong way: financially, with relationships, in the political arena, or spiritually.
If so, do some self-examination and then make the needed adjustments.
In Jeremiah 29:11 it says… “I know the plans I have for you; …to give you a hope and a future.”
When Jim Marshall stopped thinking the wrong way, his life changed both on the field and in his personal world. The same thing can happen to you.