Blocking Sled

When I was in 7th grade, I was a bit overweight so when it came to playing football, they put me on the offensive line.  Actually, I was a left guard.

I really didn’t think I belonged there.  I hated blocking and playing “bit parts” in the success of the team.

I also hated the blocking sled.

Most people know what a blocking sled is, but if you don’t, its just a bunch of metal that is on a “skid” platform that lineman “hit” and push in order to practice their skill.  (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YL0o-kjEGA)

Notice I said skill because that’s all I had.  Blocking.

The coach always tried to pair up two guys to push the sled and usually picked two that were of the same size.

Sometimes, you’d get a bigger kid on one side and smaller kid on the other. 

Disaster.

You see if the big kid pushes with all of his might and the little kid does the same, your sled goes round and round in circles and never moves across the field.  No progress is made and no ground is covered, just a funny little joke that the rest of the team gets to watch.

I was working out the other day and I noticed one of the guys that was maxing out on his bench press was always asking my partner for a “spot”.  (His max was about 375 pounds.)

I joked around a good bit with both of them and pretended to be offended.  Was I not strong enough to “spot” him?  Did he fear for his safety?

Thank goodness no one responded, but the answer to both of those questions was “yes”.  I simply was not a strong enough “spot” for him to really challenge himself physically and yet know that he wouldn’t be injured by “maxing out”.

The Bible says not to be unequally yoked.  Does that mean don’t marry someone of “like” faith/denomination/spiritual depth?

Yes and more.

I believe that we should all be linked to someone that will help us push through the daily struggles that are thrown at us.  When you have one spouse that is stronger, then you get the spinning effect and the relationship never advances in its depth with God.  Sometimes it even causes conflict amongst the spouses.

I, however, believe that we need to look even deeper.

I don’t think we should be unequally yoked in our friendships and in the career/business that we work in.

So many people will hang out with individuals that are not positively pushing the “sled” along.  They become a hindrance. 

But, I also believe there are those that work in industries, for companies or for managers that are not equally yoked either.  Some colleges kids are in the wrong major and/or university because they have not “yoked” themselves equally.

Beware of being yoked unequally. 

If not, you’ll get nothing but dizzy.