Over the years I have wrestled (well maybe that is a
strong word – more like contemplated) with naming an official mascot for
InBounds Ministries. The logical choices have been the typical “Lions” or “Eagles”
or even something like the “Crusaders.” The idea being that one wants to evoke
the idea of power, speed, overcoming, taking flight, etc… I have even gone as
far as thinking of something crazy like the “Iguanas” since, like the theory on
reptiles, we should grow until we die… BUT, none of the mascots ever fully stuck
in my mind; yet, we are a sports-based ministry so the thoughts continue…
Some odd mascots I have heard over the years:
Wichita State Shockers… due to some of their athletes “shocking”
(harvesting) wheat in the summers…
The Utah Jazz??? Jazz in Utah??? This is due to the team
moving from New Orleans and no one changing the name…
How about my hometown Evansville Purple Aces? Apparently
derived in the 1920’s when an opposing coach against the Evansville College
Pioneers stated in a loss that they had not 4, but 5, Aces up their sleeves…
I could go on with names… it is a fun internet search,
but I need to get to the point… although I will say that one jumped out at me
in my search due to me very recent trip to an Indian reservation… Being in the
incredible culture, I remembered the importance in names…
Scottsdale Community College has Artie the Fighting Artichoke;
an absurd mascot voted on by the student body in protest to the college using
funds intended for Indians to instead lure athletes. This makes me want to get
a t-shirt from there…
But no, the mascot I am now sold on for InBounds is not
the Artichokes… but instead one that gives a picture of strength in the midst
of adversity. Throughout Scripture we are reminded that life will be full of “storms”
and that we can face them with confidence and joy… yes, even joy!
The typical approach we have toward trials is to avoid
them… to run from them. But the Scriptures give a different slant… check out
how James says it in chapter 1 (from the Message paraphrase): 2-4 Consider
it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.
You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows
its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its
work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
When study animals we see different ways in which they
react to storms. For instance, a cow will sense a storm coming and try to
outrun it; yet they are not super-fast and inevitably end up spending longer in
the storm than they needed to…
But, (and hear comes the mascot explanation) the BUFFALO
will turn toward the storm and walk through it; thus getting to the other side more
quickly and in better shape than the cow… This is taken from the “Better Life
Coaching Blog”:
Wilma Mankiller, the first ever female chief
of the Cherokee nation and owner of one of the best surnames in history once
said,
Cows run
away from the storm while the buffalo charges toward it – and gets through it
quicker. Whenever I’m confronted with a tough challenge, I do not prolong
the torment, I become the buffalo.
While out west, I was absolutely mesmerized by the
incredible stories of this amazing creature (and hearing through the thoughts
of an Indian man.) I’m not sure what you have going on in life right now… but I
can say that, like the buffalo, you are equipped to make it through the storm…
because God is on your side and is going through it with you! Don’t fear, Jesus
is in the boat!
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