The Rock

Photo by Sports.yahoo.com

     Football season is almost here, fans will be packing the stadiums to watch men chase after a pigskin.
"Footballs are called "pigskins" for a reason.  The earliest footballs were made from a pig's bladder, which was blown up and covered with pig skin.  Today, footballs still contain an inner bladder, though made of rubber and an outer skin.  The material most often used is leather or cowhide."-eHow. Making Footballs. www.ehow.com.

     Howard's Rock has been in the news lately due to vandalism.  Howard's Rock is Clemson's "Good Luck Charm: Clemson roared back from an 18-point deficit to beat Virginia, 40-35, in the 1966 season opener. The Howard's Rock legend  was officially born when the coach later told his team: "Give me 110 percent or keep your filthy hands off of my rock."  The team began routinely rubbing the rock in 1967, and have been doing so ever since."- College Football. Howard's Rock at Clemson University. www.collegefootball.about.com. 

     Did you know that Dacusville has a connection with Howard's Rock?

     A man by the name of Henry Jones lived in our Dacusville community.  "In 1916, he started delivering mail for the Pickens Post Office.  His mail route started at Pumpkintown and continued almost to the Table Rock area.  In 1918, he started to carry the mail route for Dacusville.  Mr. Jones had five sons and one was named Sam.  While Sam was on a visit to Death Valley, California, he remembered that the Clemson Tiger football playing field shared the same name.  He then proceeded to bring a large rock back to the Clemson coach, Frank Howard.  Later the rock was mounted at the top of the hill where Clemson players touch the rock for good luck before running down the bank and onto the playing field.  There is a small brass plaque on the rock indicating that Sam Jones was the donor."-Dacusville Middle School. Down Home: Dacusville Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow. Dacusville Community History Project. 1995.

     There is another rock that existed long before "Howard's Rock".

     "The Lord is my Rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge."-Psalm 18:2.

     "Howard's Rock didn't make a great first impression, it was said that Howard used it originally as a doorstop.  There the rock remained until the summer of 1966, when according to Clemson legend, Howard stumbled across it while cleaning his office. "Take this rock and throw it over the fence or out in the ditch", Howard reportedly told Clemson booster Gene Willimon.  "Do something with it, but get it out of my office." Willimon did what he was told.  But instead of chucking the rock, Willimon placed it on a pedestal at Memorial Stadium, in a spot where he knew Clemson players would pass." -College Football. Howard's Rock at Clemson University.www.collegefootball.about.com.

     Jesus our Rock, was also rejected, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;"-Psalm 118:22.

     Jesus was rejected by:

• His family and community:  "Jesus said to them, only in his hometown, among his relatives and his own house is a prophet without honor."-Mark 6:4
• His friends and His disciples:  "At this time the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."  They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?  How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"- John 6:41-42.
• The religious leaders:  Plotted to have Jesus killed.-Book of Mark
• The crowds:  "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?  Pilate asked.  They all answered, "Crucify him!"
• The thief on the cross:  "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him:  "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"-Luke 23:39.
• God the Father: Because of the sin of the world that Jesus was carrying on the cross, God had to separate himself from Jesus. "Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"-Matthew 27:46.

Will you reject Jesus?

     Howard's Rock was placed on a pedestal at Memorial Stadium for all to see.  It draws people to touch it for good luck.  Jesus our Rock, was placed on the cross for all to see. "When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."-John 12:32.  He draws us to him to be saved.
   
   

Photo by www.crossonrock.com

       "There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no Rock like our God."- 1 Samuel 2:2
     


     Howard's Rock has become an icon to Clemson University, the football team, and the fans.  It is a rock that was brought back from Death Valley, California in the 60's. Does it bring good luck like everyone desires it too?  How long will this rock last?

     Jesus our Rock, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."- John 1:1....will last an eternity.

     "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock."-Isaiah 26:4
   

The Secret To The Fountain Of Youth

     I had the privilege of meeting a man named Joe Elias at Pickens County Seniors Unlimited while doing my internship for school.  I first spoke with Joe over the phone, I was making calls to the clients asking if they were still interested in using our services.  You could tell that Joe needed someone to talk to that day, so I listened.

     Joe began by telling me how he wasn't happy with his current situation.  His nephew just moved him out of his home into an assisted living facility called Clemson Downs in Clemson, SC.  Joe talked for a good while about different things and I listened, but what really struck something in me was when he made this comment, "I am 102 yrs. old and I think God has forgotten about me!"

     Old age, should we fear it or embrace it?  While speaking with Joe he shared with me that he has nothing left to live for, that each day is the same.  Our conversation went on for a good thirty minutes and he ended it by saying I needed to come visit with him.  I did get the chance to visit with Joe and he is a remarkable man that still has so much to offer even in his 102 year old body.  Everyone at Clemson Downs talked so highly of Joe and I truly enjoyed our visit.  He did give me an impression of how it could feel to be 102, and from my encounter with Joe I wrote this poem:

     A poem on how it might feel to be trapped in an aging body.....
   

   Stuck Within

 Trapped.....fight to get out

Scream.....but no one can hear you

Escape.....you can't

You're Stuck Within

Long Days.....that last forever

Wasted Time.....with nothing to do

Moment by Moment.....you live without

You're Stuck Within

Outer Vessel.....deteriorating quickly

Strength.....that fades away

Spirit.....dies inside

You're Stuck Within

                                                                

(Author-Crystal Hall)

     .....but don't let this poem define you as you age, as Tim McConnell put it we should embrace each stage of life.  "Embrace each stage of your life that God gives you, enjoy the days of your youth while you are young but when you are old embrace it also because God is good in all stages." -Tim McConnell.

    There is a man that lives in our Dacusville community that is embracing old age.  This man is almost ninety years old, he gets up at the crack of dawn and works on his farm till sun down.  He believes in staying active, he doesn't take the time to let age get in his way. Staying active is the secret to the fountain of youth.

     We find two different scenarios in these two men, yet are they really different?

     Is it our bodies that trap us, or is it our minds? In Philippians 4:12, God tells us to be content in every situation.  Both men have lived a long life, is it possible to wake up each morning and both men have a happy and productive day?  What if Joe took on a new way of looking at things? What would be the difference then?

     In Ecclesiastes, we read that life is meaningless but it doesn't have to be because Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullness." -John 10:10  The real secret is not in finding the fountain of youth but in finding the one that will give you life to the fullness no matter the age.