God's Coaching #26

God's Coaching #26

Have you ever heard of a flying fish? Well, the people of Port Lincoln, Australia, have taken the idea of a “flying fish” to a ridiculous level. Every year nearly 50,000 people gather in this small fishing town to celebrate the Tunarama Festival. And the highlight? A tuna-tossing competition, of course. To be more specific, it’s the World Champion Tuna Toss.

But don’t think competitors grab a can of StarKist tuna and chuck it into the sea. That would be too easy. Instead these athletes grab slimy fish that weigh between 17 and 22 pounds and see how far they can throw them through the air. The record in this unusual competition was set in 1998 when former Olympic hammer thrower Sean Carlin threw a massive tuna more than 122 feet! Now that’s a flying fish. And this is no fishy fable.

The Tunarama Festival started in 1962 as a way to promote the newly started fishing industry. Today, Australia’s largest tuna cannery is located in Port Lincoln.

What’s the Score?

Throwing a ginormous tuna takes a lot of strength. It also requires a lot of soap, because there’s no way these competitors can smell good after launching a stinky fish into the air. Sean developed his strength by training for the Olympics. He even placed eighth in the hammer throw in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

As Christians, we find our strength in God. First Chronicles 16:11 reminds us to “search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.” God’s strength helps us do the right thing, even if our friends are making poor choices. His strength helps us tell others about Jesus Christ. His strength gives us an inner joy, even when things don’t go perfectly for us. But for most of us, his strength will probably show up in different ways from tuna throwing.

On the Ball

What kind of strength do you need from God? List some areas in which you need help. Maybe it’s to do better in your schoolwork. Perhaps you want to treat people with more kindness. Write down a couple of things, and then pray for God to give you strength in these areas:

Coach’s Comment

Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him. 1 Chronicles 16:11