A man once had a beautiful Labrador dog called Duke who used to sit in front of his master with great delight, only for him to lift one of Duke’s front legs off the ground and roll him onto his back. Duke would immediately wriggle his way back on to his feet and sit in front of his master again with a big dog-smile on his face. So the master would do it again – as would Duke. All night!
On the matter of dogs, here is a question: If we were a dog, what sort of dog would we be? The one we should love to be is this: an underdog! This writer has always been, as it has happened, on the side of the weaker one – the youngest child of four siblings; playing hockey not rugby or soccer; playing for Scotland not England; doing athletics not cricket; weak in academics; Head of a new school rather than an established one; living in Matabeleland. He could go on too!
Many of us also may see ourselves as an underdog, whether as an individual or as a school (whether in the Midlands, in a relatively new school, in a small school, wherever). If that is the case, then there is good news for us! We need to know that it is good to be an underdog! We might struggle to believe that so here are ten good reasons why it is good to be the underdog. Firstly, we have nothing to lose! There is an old song which said: “Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose, And nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’ but it’s free”. When we have nothing to lose, we really are free and we all want to be free! We cannot lose any more; the only way is up!
Secondly, we have every reason to try. There is a story of a coach of a girls’ basketball team who had no experience, no talent and no chance. He was described in this illuminating way: “Vivek Ramadire coached a team of girls who had no talent in a sport he knew nothing about. He was an underdog and a misfit and that gave him the freedom to try things no-one else ever dreamed of.” There was no pressure on him or his team so they could do things that others would not do. He won!
Thirdly, we can enjoy proving everyone wrong! There is no better feeling than doing something that others said could not be done. The underdog has that chance, without question. Fourthly, we create opportunities that are not available to others! If we went to a school that is very strong in sport, we might not play for the 1st team, let alone be selected for the provincial or national team to which we aspire. Even if we do play for the 1st team, we will most likely win most of your matches without having to push yourself. However, if we go to a school that is weaker in sport, we will play against opposition that is tougher so we will have to work harder and improve as a result.
Next, by being the underdog, we remove pressure from ourselves! As a result, we can go out and enjoy it because we are not worried about having to win. We can try things; we can go for it! Furthermore, we can expand our mind by being the underdog! We can try things we would not try otherwise because we have to do so. We have to think out of the box. The consequence is that our experience will be far greater. Ask David in the Old Testament when he was faced with Goliath.
Next, we will learn to develop perseverance and determination, which will take us far! When ‘success’ comes easily or without much effort, it becomes the expected but that also means that we will not be prepared for ‘failure‘ (as surely it will one day come). The underdog learns to fall and rise.
The eighth reason is that we will be kept humble, not conceited or complacent like the favourite! By being the underdog, we know what is important, we know full well the challenge and we do not think of ourselves too much. That will help us more in the future. More significantly, we appreciate much more all that we do have! We will not take it all for granted but will use what we have with greater appreciation, purpose and conviction. And lastly, just remember that God loves the underdog – in the Bible we constantly find references to the fact that, contrary to what the world may do, God rewards the weak, the least, the last.
So, we have to admit it: Being the underdog is great! Duke certainly thought so! So, there is no need for us to be upset, worried, embarrassed, afraid, nervous or apologetic. And just remember: “If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito.”
