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He had beaten the odds all of his life and then, at age 38, he faced the toughest challenge of all. “It’s cancer, Merril. You have a two to three pound tumor in your back the size of a small football.” The call was devastating, leaving him sobbing like a baby. His spirit was hollow and he could see himself crawling toward death. That is, until his nine year old daughter reminded him of the three words which had driven him through adversity his entire life.“you’re just gonna have to find a way!"
At the age of 12, Merril Hoge, was a slow, and very undersized young boy. But Merril Hodge refused to allow circumstances to determine his future. At the age of 12, that slow and undersized boy placed two index cards on the wall in his room. The first read, "I will play in the NFL" and the second said..."I will find a way!" Years later, Merril went on to become a starting running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Recently, he was faced with the greatest challenge of his life and is once again determined to be guided by his lifelong philosophy (I will find a way!) and his nine year old daughter.
Today, reach out to someone you may know that is struggling and encourage them. Merril understood that no matter how small the odds of victory might be, no amount of statistical evidence can account for the impact of the human spirit. When the naysayers tell you it can’t be done and when history says it has never been done, one undying spirit can change history forever. One undying spirit can always find the path to victory. So when things get difficult in your life, or in the life of someone you know... remember that you’re just gonna have to find a way!
You see, we are measured not by how many times we fall, but how many times we get back up.
(Thanks Gary Rupert)
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