The Thorn

Paul reminds me of a great basketball player of the mid-80's who played for the Atlanta Hawks: Spud Webb. For you young athletes out there, Spud Webb is a 5' 7" man who had dreams of playing in a "Big Man's League." Did he make it? Did he ever! He was quoted as saying, "No one expected or imagined that a person of my size could win a slam dunk contest or make it into the NBA."

Paul explains to the Corinthians that he, too, is a small man playing in a big man's league trying to make a difference. He knows that he cannot do it without help from his Creator. God allowed him a "thorn" as a reminder to Paul that without Christ, he is nothing. Does Paul whine or quit because the thorn makes life too hard? No! Neither did Webb: "I never let my size (THORN) keep me from excelling in a sport in which the odds of making it to the professional level are nearly impossible."