Leverage Your Disadvantage

This ⬆️ PICTURE right here!! It is a treasure. It not only brings back great memories, but it also encapsulates a POWERFUL PRINCIPLE:

l e v e r a g e

y o u r

d i s a d v a n t a g e

It was over 28 years ago that I moved to Chanute, Kansas to be a high school science teacher and freshmen girls volleyball coach.

Most of my students were freshmen, which I loved as it afforded me the opportunity to get to know them as freshmen and then watch them grow and mature all the way through high school.

And those of us who were freshmen teachers, tended to think that these freshmen were “our kids”. We advocated for them, encouraged them, cheered them on, and as best as we could, championed their cause.

This picture was taken in the fall of 2000 during Homecoming week. These were my freshmen volleyball players.

One tradition during this week was class competition where each class was assigned a particular color to wear. Then during a pep rally, the classes would be judged and the color that was best represented would win the class competition.

But there was ONE PROBLEM.

The competition was rigged.

So, as a result, the excitement level for this competition, across the board, was not very high.

Of course, the seniors chose the colors and every year it pretty much looked something like this:

SENIORS were assigned the color BLUE and all they needed to do was wear blue jeans and a blue shirt.

And with each preceding class, the colors got a bit more challenging.

The JUNIORS would get a color such as WHITE where they would wear a white t-shirt.

The SOPHOMORES might get ORANGE or HOT PINK.

But then, when it came to the FRESHMEN, they were not given a color, instead, they were given something so outrageous that there was no (seemingly) possible way for them to win.

Enter this freshmen class.

When the class competition colors were announced, no one was surprised to hear that the freshmen class “color” was:

a n i m a l p r i n t

And while some might resign themselves to defeat or complain about this injustice happening TO THEM (“animal print is NOT a color!!”), not this bunch.

Instead, they banded together. They decided this ingenious “animal print” verdict would happen FOR THEM. So, they came up with a plan. They bought out Walmart’s white t-shirts and black sharpies, and scheduled “cow-painting” parties. And their plan and ACTION began to build MOMENTUM and EXCITEMENT.

With all this unexpected BUZZ, something interesting happened.

The upperclassmen began to hear what the “down-for-the count” freshmen were up to.

And they were bound and determined not to be “showed up” by a group of freshmen.

In a matter of just a few days, a new homecoming tradition was born.

Classes began to galvanize around a mission that was exciting – to (legitimately) win the class competition. Banners were made and mounted on poles to be waved and carried by fanatic students running across the gym floor. Students began to create headbands and scarves and any additional piece of clothing or paraphernalia they could add to to give them an extra edge.

It is a memory I will never forget – the excitement that permeated our building the entire week. And then that assembly where the class competition winner would be announced – I get goosebumps just thinking about it. The volume in our school gym during that PEP ASSEMBLY was a LEVEL 10+.

A student body that had been lukewarm at best, was now, CRAZY-OUT-OF-THEIR-MIND, in the best sort of way.

And it began a new HOMECOMING TRADITION.

The class competition that year was close on all accounts. And while the freshmen didn’t win (of course, I thought, they should have!), I have to admit, every class represented and outdid themselves.

And all because a group of kids who were written off, leveraged their disadvantage. Instead of ANIMAL PRINT happening TO THEM, it happened FOR THEM. And quite possibly for everyone else too.

What a LIFE PRINCIPLE.

At some point in life, we all get our own version of the “ANIMAL PRINT VERDICT” and find ourselves at a disadvantage.

It could be a life circumstance, disease or an illness, being mistreated by others, or hundreds of other negative experiences that life throws our way.

That’s when we get to decide the narrative.

Will this happen TO US or will it happen FOR US?

We’re the only ones who get to determine the outcome. And that outcome will be by the narrative of our choosing.

I’m encouraged by a couple of Bible verses that rally us to leverage the disadvantage for our advantage. FOR US, rather than TO US.

In Genesis 50:20 (NLT), Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers decades earlier, told his brothers,

“You intended to harm me, but GOD INTENDED IT ALL FOR GOOD. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

Or another favorite, Romans 8:28 (NIV),

“And we know that IN ALL THINGS GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

That’s what it means to LEVERAGE YOUR DISADVANTAGE.

To see life happening FOR YOU, not TO YOU.

And the ONE FACTOR that will determine whether or not your situation will be leveraged for your advantage – FOR YOU – isn’t the situation, the economy, other people, your health, your family, or any other factor. No, the ONE FACTOR is YOU.

You get to determine your narrative and your outcome.

I’m cheering you on. God’s cheering you on.

Now it’s up to you.

TO YOU or FOR YOU?