Excerp from "Do hard things"

A lesson from the Vikings

The Vikings were fierce pirates and warriors who terrorized the northern Europe nearly a thousand years ago. They loved and burned pretty much every European country that had the misfortune to border the Atlantic Ocean. Europeans were so frightened of the Viking menace that churches others offered a special prayer: "God, deliver us from the fury of the Northmen."

Most Historians attribute the Vikings' devastating effectiveness to their warships, which were light enough to be dragged up onto the beach. That allowed the raiders to make lightning-fast strikes, then retreat quickly to the safety of the sea.

However, another contribution factor holds great significance for rebelutionaries: the Vikings rowed themselves to battle. Most other sea powers at the time used slaves of professional rowers to propel their warships, but the Vikings took full responsibility for that repetitive and strenuous activity. That tells us one very important thing about them: they were seriously ripped.

No wonder an entire continent lived in dread of them. By sheer muscle power, they routinely moved twenty-ton boats across miles of ocean. When they got our of their boats and started swinging their battle-axes, it didn't matter if you carried a shield of barricaded your door. You stood little chance. The Vikings' incredible upper-body strength made them nearly undefeatable.

We can all learn a lesson about small hard things from the Vikings. If we're willing to strive for excellence, even in the boring, repetitive tasks and responsibilities that others delegate of neglect, we will reap the powerful benefits that others miss.

Embracing small hard things can make a radical difference.

I was super encouraged as I read this, because I tend to get discouraged when nothing "big" is going on in life. God has been reminding me that the every day things do count and are training for later experiences.