We Will All Be Tested

Thanks to the wonderful world of NetFlix I have recently become a die hard fan of Friday Night Lights. It's a show that's shot in sort of a docu-drama style about football in a small town in Texas. The show is about way more than football. The show is in many ways a microcosm of the many social issues that people face today.

The main character, Coach Eric Taylor, is a mix of mayor, teacher, coach, pastor, father, and diplomat. He's at the center of all that takes place in the small town of Dillon as football is the cities religion, political system, and main source of entertainment. His character carries the weight of the city.

In the first episode one of the premier stars of the team is badly injured. The players injury places the team in a tough position as the expectation to win it all was looming heavily all over them. Despite the loss of their team leader and the unexpected rolls each individual is now required to play, they pull out a win in their first game.

While in the locker room addressing the team Coach Taylor makes this statement to the team, "You will be tested! We will all be tested...!" That statement resonated so deep within me I replayed the statement at least 3 times. The truth of testing in any one's life is real. It's without a doubt real to those that have hopes, dreams, goals, and standards. Testing will come, one way or another.

Testing comes through relationships, finance, occupation, environment, opportunity or lack there of, family, friends, love, hate, mind, body, and spirit....testing will come. There is no escaping it. In many ways, our own struggle to carve out our little piece of land in this world causes testing as we will cross paths with those that seek to do the same. It is not usually intentional that we come in conflict with others. It is however, inevitable. Basic economics; there is only so many slices of pie to go around. Hence, there we find ourselves tested. Sometimes to our very core.