How Hard Do You Hit Your Problem?

A young boy wanted to play contact sports, particularly American style football and rugby, but was hesitant to do so because he thought that he was too small.  One day he shared this concern with his sister's friend.  The sister's friend picked up a potato and a plastic straw.

He asked the young boy, "Do you think this little straw can go through this big potato?"

The boy replied, "No way, it's too small and thin."

His sister's friend said, "You are wrong."  Then with great speed he pushed the straw straight through the potato.

The boy sat wide-eyed and in disbelief.

His sister's friend said, "It does not matter how small you are, what matters is how hard you hit your problem."

- Craig A. Smith, Sermon Illustrations For An Asian Audience (OMF Literature Inc., 2004)