Have you ever noticed that, sometimes in life, opportunities to grow our character come when we least expect them, and often didn’t want them?

Consider this modern-day parable:

A millionaire decided to throw a massive party for his 50th birthday. During the party he grabs the microphone and announces to his guests that down in the garden of his mansion he has a swimming pool with two great white sharks in it.

“The man who dares to swim across that pool gets $1 MILLION DOLLARS!”

A thrill of excitement passes through the crowd but no one makes a move for the pool until, suddenly, there is a great splash and a man begins swimming as hard as he can.

The fins come out of the water and the jaws are snapping and yet this guy just keeps on going.

The sharks are gaining on him but somehow he reaches the end and jumps out of the pool.

The millionaire grabs the victorious swimmer and says, “You sir, are the bravest man I’ve ever seen! And I am a man of his word. SO, I have only one question for you: Cash, check or bond?”

The man responds, “I have one question of my own…who pushed me in the pool!”

Justin Ford is pastor of Oakdale Baptist Church, which is located in Eastern Oklahoma County.