Surviving Blindsides

Has life ever blindsided you?

Just when you felt life was going in a certain direction, there was a plot twist that you never expected.

  

That happened to me this week.  

Although it wasn’t a life- or-death event, it still rattled me a bit.

It’s like when people say that “stuff happens.”  (Maybe not exactly stuff but you know the saying)  

Life is unpredictable.  When the unexpected happens it is like getting the wind knocked out of you.  

I have learned that when this happens to me that I have to allow myself time to absorb the event and I know it will take me a few days to adjust.  

The important thing is not to panic or allow my emotions to react.  I have to take some time to settle my mind about what has happened.  I pray about it and leave it in God’s hands because ultimately there is nothing I can do to change it.  In these times we are reminded that we aren’t in control like we think we are. 

While we are surprised by life’s plot twists, God isn’t.  So why not trust Him?  I will admit that sometimes I freak out but I also allow myself some time to let my emotions settle down.  Right now as I continue to digest the latest blindside in my life, I also know that I have been through this before and I got through it.  It may not be something I prefer but I do have some history I can look back on.  People say that everything happens for a reason but that doesn’t help much when you are going through that reason.  Sometimes we never know the reason.  We simply just have to keep moving forward. 

We can’t possibly know it all.  We just live another day.  

I could give you a Bible verse or some witty cliche here but i won’t.  The bottom line is that the only way we handle the things that blindside us is to just go through it.  There are no shortcuts.  

So, I am adjusting my mindset to what has happened to me and recentering my focus.  It’s much like when we use our GPS for directions and we make the wrong turn, we had to re-adjust our course and follow the changes ahead.  

Don’t be rattled by times you are blindsided in life but take time to re-center yourself and refresh your mind.

Football Friday Night: Week 4

This week was a tale of two teams going in very different directions. Villa Rica improved to 4-0 while Warner Robins gave up a historic 70 points in a loss.

Clinch County was off this week.

First the good news...

Villa Rica 35, Seckinger 13
In WSB TV's Sports Zone Friday Game of the Week, Villa Rica made a good showing. The game was delayed due to inclement weather for over an hour and a half but the Villa Rica (4-0) offense seemed to be ready to go right away. The Wildcats drove the length of the field almost immediately. Junior quarterback Blaine Brown connected with Josiah Walker on a scoring toss, giving the Wildcats a 7-0 lead just over two minutes into the game.

Seckinger (0-3) had its best possession of the first half midway through the opening quarter, but it stalled out. Their ensuing 42-yard field goal was off the mark as well, giving the ball back to Villa Rica. Villa Rica tailback Emmanuel Ajayi had a relatively quiet first half, then broke out completely in the third period. The Wildcats hopped on top of the second half kickoff, and on the very next play Ajayi raced in from 30 yards out to create a two-possession lead. Three minutes later as Ajayi punched it in from 30 yards out once more, giving VRHS a 21-0 advantage.

Seckinger finally found the scoreboard in the closing moments of the third quarter. Following a fake punt, the Jaguars scored on the ground. The extra point was missed, making it a 21-6 game going into the fourth quarter.

Ajayi scored again early in the fourth on a 20-yard carry with 9:42 remaining, running Villa Rica’s lead to 22 points. Brown later connected with junior receiver Tamaj Beasley for his second touchdown toss of the night, creating a 35-6 cushion.

This is Villa Rica's best start since 1998. They have surprised me so far after picking them to finish 1-9.

Next: September 18 vs. Cass (4-0)

It will be a battle of the unbeatens in Villa Rica.  The Wildcats are 10-4 in the series.  They lost their last meeting 17-14 in 2019.  Cass defeated Heritage last week 41-13.

Now the ugly....

Newton 70, Warner Robins 14

Yep, you read that right.  Warner Robins gave up SEVENTY points in this game.  It is the most points any Warner Robins team has ever given up in a game.  The previous record was a 67-13 loss to Lanier in 1966.  

Newton had all of the highlights as Kevin Hartsfield returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and Newton led 64-0 at halftime. Braylon Miller caught TD passes of 19 and 61 yards in the first quarter and returned an interception 56 yards and a punt 65 yards, both for touchdowns, in the second quarter. Josiah Frazier was 7-of-11 passing for 170 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown on three carries. Zayden Harden rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown on four carries.

It is disappointing to see how far Warner Robins has fallen.  From appearing in the state finals from 2016-2022 to this.  This is pathetic.  This is a terrible coaching staff.  Shane Sams should have NEVER been hired to take over this storied program.  Was it not enough that this team endured historic embarrassing losses to Benedictine (61-0) and Cartersville (64-0) last year?  Sams needs to go.  Sorry if he's someone's favorite but he won't get the job done.  How much worst does this need to get?  Warner Robins missed a golden opportunity to snag alum Rich Findley Jr. when he left Bowdon last year.  

Next:  September 18 at Union Grove

It won't get any easier this week when Warner Robins takes on Union Grove.  Although Warner Robins leads the series 3-0, it will be important to see how they respond after the historic Newton loss.  Union Grove is 1-3.  They got their first win this week with a 58-12 win over Salem.  This is a very pivotal week for Warner Robins football in 2026.

Clinch County Panthers 

After a week off, Clinch County (1-2) will travel to Alma to play Bacon County (2-1).  The Panthers got their first win in their last game and will face the Red Raiders who lost to Vidalia 28-14 two weeks ago.  Clinch County leads the series 21-11.  They won last season's game 25-6.  The Panthers have a 16-game winning streak against the Red Raiders.  Bacon County's last win was in 1985. 

Hope for the Tortured Soul

Are you a tortured soul?

Are you in a dark place?

At some point in our lives, we’ve been in a dark place. Restless. Seemingly no purpose and without hope.

Some are even good at hiding it. They are one thing to others but alone in their thoughts they are miserable.

Religion, Christian cliches and Bible verses are useless when you are in a deep dark place in your soul. This world is an angry and bitter place. Sometimes help is nowhere to be found. What do you do to pull yourself out of the tortured place of your soul?

Find the place where you can best quiet your mind and listen to God. It may be nature. It could be a place or music.

For me it has been the ocean. Anytime I go to the beach, I try to take time to sit there with my eyes closed and let the ocean breeze filter my mind and melt away the negativity in me. That is when I feel the closest to God.

Does He speak to me? Not in an subtle voice. I would say I sense His presence. Usually it is that intense His arms around me and assuring me that He is there.

That’s just me. It is something different for others.

The most important thing to remember when you are in a dark place is to make an effort to get yourself out. You are the only one that can do it.

Dark places tempt you to end it. End the pain you are feeling and end the hopeless feeling. Suicide is never the better option. Fighting for your soul is worth it. YOU are worth it.

For me, I was reminded about the depth of God’s love for me in Romans 8 where it says: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

You may or may not have a faith in God like I do. Maybe this some religious stuff that doesn’t speak to you. If it doesn’t, I can tell you that when you are in a dark place that you need to find your way out or it will consume you. Don’t listen to the lies that the darkness makes you think. The darkness feeds on the lies and negative thoughts. Break away from it. You are highly valued. The only person who can change it is you.