God's Coaching #287

God's Coaching #287

Respect your elders. That’s good advice in life . . . and in surfing. At the 2010 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour event in Portugal, Kelly Slater proved that age doesn’t determine success in surfing. The 38-year-old from Florida used his experience and skill to pull out a victory at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal. While the beach Supertubos sounds like it would have huge waves, the swells during the competition were less than stellar. The calm ocean conditions only churned up three-foot waves, but Kelly still managed huge tricks—including a 360 alley-oop on a nothing wave. The finals saw Kelly defeat Jordy Smith of South Africa by a score of 13.33 to 11.43.

The victory moved Kelly one step closer to his 10th ASP World Championship. Kelly claimed that championship later in the year. His 10 world championships were more than twice the number of Mark Richards from Australia, who had won four world titles in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

What’s the Score?

Kelly was able to make something out of nothing to win the Rip Curl Pro Portugal. While younger surfers struggled to come up with big moves on tiny waves, Kelly was able to reach into his bag of tricks and still turn in top scores. Experience can be a huge asset in sports. Over the years Kelly had surfed in all kinds of conditions. He was born in Cocoa Beach, Florida, which was known as the small-wave capital of the East Coast. So he knew what to do on the tiny waves of Supertubos. Kelly may not have been the strongest surfer physically that day, but he was the best.

The Bible says “the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old” (Proverbs 20:29). The smooth-scalped Kelly didn’t have any hair at all, but he did have tons of experience. As you go through life and compete in sports, remember to respect your elders. You can learn a lot from the people who lived before you. Take time to talk with your grandparents and to learn from their experiences. Many young people rely only on their strength to get through. Older, wiser people have both strength and experience.

On the Ball

Think of an older person in your life. Is there anything you could learn from him or her? The answer is yes! Write down a question you’d like to ask that person the next time you’re together. It could be about sports, life, or faith in Jesus.

My question is ____________________________________________________________

Coach’s Comment

The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old. Proverbs 20:29