When I was 39 years old I entered Birmingham Polytechnic as a lecturer. During that time in that department we developed several diplomas and when we were upgraded to a university these were turned into first degrees. This necessitated meeting the representatives of the CNAA,1 and because I was senior lecturer and subject tutor for Building Studies I had to represent my department in establishing the philosophy for my subject specialty.
Our degrees were subsequently awarded and this meant we began to see some high level students attending because we were designated a centre of excellence for Estate Management and Surveying. These students with their ‘A’s’ at ‘A’ level waltzed into the university bristling with academic ability. They saw the subject ‘Building Studies’ and thought here’s a soft option. Their first lesson was to draw a brick with another draped over it, both having frogs (bed-lining indentations) positioned next to a gas tap on the front bench. It had to be freehand with no ruler; they had to estimate the dimension according to the scale they chose. The gas tap gave them a hint.
It also had to be in an isometric elevation, which necessitated spatial perception, which many of them didn’t possess, no matter how intelligent they were. Many students from several nationalities struggled with this exercise and they suddenly realised that Building Studies may, after all, be more demanding than they at first thought, and that they needed a different viewpoint.
The officers of Israel gathered nightly in Saul’s tent to discuss the tactics for defeating the Philistines who were arrayed against them in Oak Valley. Each morning they arose went out to battle, gave their war cry and watched as Goliath arose from amongst the ranks of the Philistine army to challenge them to battle. They in turn slunk away to talk again that evening!2
Then David, the grocery boy, appeared with best mature Cheddar cheese and bread. He was the one with spatial (spiritual) perception, he was used to looking from God’s viewpoint, and saw that the hidden world was more real than the material world. He also had God’s anointing. We tend to look at our giants from ground level but in doing that it heightens our difficulties; it enlarges our giants, and magnifies their potential danger. It distorts actuality in God, for God is above all. We need to shift the vantage point of faith, for it to be faith.
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”3 David had already killed a bear and a lion, and both are stronger than a giant! Therefore his risk was calculated, not brashness or rashness. “Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.”4 That deliberate approach plus God is a wonderful way to obtain victory.
Michelangelo said “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it but that it is too low and we reach it.” We are made for victory and positive living, yet we all have giants walking our valleys. None of us are exempt. There are those who, having learnt much, refuse to learn more and become too content with their lot. They live with their giants and just shout. “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis’. One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger but recognize the opportunity.”5 Each day we can live above the taunts of the Goliath of Gath.
“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”6 But “. . . we do not look at the things which are seen (foreground), but at the things which are not seen (background). For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”7 The tension of two worlds is answered in Christ, who is our victory. Christians not only touch the foreground, but they remind of the background, for the invisible world is the reality. Finally – “the greatest risk is the risk of riskless living.”8 Take a risk in God and slay a giant!
1 Council for National Academic Awards.
2 1 Samuel 16/17 6 James O. Rose
3 Hebrews 11:1-3 7 2 Cor. 4:18
4 General Patton 8 Steven Covey
5 John F. Kennedy
