No One Ever Imagined

NO ONE EVER IMAGINED a 900 could be done on a skateboard in real life. Sure, it had been accomplished on the video game screen in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. But landing on a halfpipe after spinning around two and a half times? Come on!

That’s just what Hawk fans must have thought during the 1999 Summer X Games “Best Trick” competition. As the world’s top skaters displayed amazing grinds, kick flips, indies, and a host of new tricks that hadn’t been given cool names yet, Hawk made it a night to remember.

Originally, organizers planned for the competition to be held within a specific time limit, but once Hawk started going after the 900, time no longer mattered. All eyes watched as with each attempt, he got closer and closer to hitting his landing. Skateboarding legends such as Andy Macdonald, Bob Burnquist, and Bucky Lasek all banged their boards on the ramp cheering for Tony Hawk.

Hawk was determined. The look on his face showed sheer focus and desire. On his 11th attempt, he nailed it. The Hawk soared high above the coping, spun two and a half times, and landed the first ever 900 during a skateboard vert competition.

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POINT Isn’t it awesome to be the first one to do something no one else has ever done before? That night, Tony Hawk said it was the best day of his life! After the successful trick, the fans went wild and rushed to congratulate Hawk, carrying him off the ramp on their shoulders.

In the sports world, the first to accomplish a feat is always held in high honor, but God’s kingdom is much different. The Lord said that the first would be last. God doesn’t want us to focus on ourselves but on others. His desire for us is that we live our life in service to others just like Christ was a servant to us by dying on the cross for our sins.

GOAL! Try something: The next time you’re in a line, go to the back and think about being a servant. Try to look for ways to put others first in your life this week. Remember that God rewards a servant’s heart!