Читать книгу The Faith of the Blind Coach - Nathaniel Farley Jr. - Страница 8

Introduction

Overcoming All Odds

Coach Small was not born “blind,” but lost his sight in the mid-50s and continued teaching and coaching until he retired in 1975. He overcame a medical condition that caused him to begin losing his eyesight, but not lose his sight of teaching and coaching.

He refused to give into this illness and misfortune. After I saw what he had accomplished before I arrived at New Stanton Senior High School and what he accomplished the three years I was there, the only title this book could have been called is, “The Faith of The Blind Coach.” During my three years, I was taught and learned so much under him, so much that he trusted me to be his eyes on the football field my last two years, because his eyesight had begun to get worse. As the word of God says, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (1 Corinthians 5 verse 7, King James Bible).

He was a motivator to me and others. The scripture stated in Philippians 4 verse 13, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me” (The Amplified Bible).

Because of the determination and motivation to continue teaching and coaching, I knew he was the coach and mentor for me. I wanted to emulate him if I became a teacher and coach. He believed education was first, then athletics was second (student athletes), then, and only then, he believed you can become a provider for your family and become a positive adult seeking a career in either sports, a professional job, or as an entrepreneur in life.