The Number To Rule All Numbers!!

Over the years of playing Powerchair Football, I have used a few numbers such as 69(my childish phase), and 87(my birth year), but for representing Canada, I wanted to put some thought into the number I would be wearing. My initial idea was to google famous sport athlete numbers, but I felt that mimicking the number of an already famous athlete would detract meaning from the significance of being on Canada's first National Team for Powerchair Football. I continued my train of thought to try and find numbers of importance in my life such as; my age, the year I graduated high school, my birthday, number of siblings, etc. All of these options seemed to fit my ideal of having a number that represented something, or someone, important to me, but I wasn't being original, so I decided to go back to the drawing board.

I was seeking originality(to some extent) and a connection that is important to me.... Well, after some thought, the answer became as clear as day. I decided to draw my number from a source that has given me strength and courage since I was a child, the Lord. To be specific, the prayer of putting on the Holy Armour of God found in Ephesians:

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. - Ephesians 6:11-20

This particular scripture holds great meaning in my life because of my Mom. As a child, we would always put on my armour before I went to bed, and to this day, I find strength through the practice of putting on the Armour of the Lord. Of course, the scripture is far more wordy than my Mom's version(I was a kid after all):

I put on the Helmet of Salvation,
the Breastplate of Righteousness,
the Shield of Faith,
the Sword of the Spirit,
the Belt of Truth,
and Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace.

I am truly an ambassador, not only for God, but for my Country, for individuals with Arthrogryposis, for individuals with Muscular Dystrophy, and for everyone that has supported me throughout my life.

Now, I'm sure you're wondering how I used this scripture for picking my number, right? It was simple! I decided to use the starting verse, Ephesians 6:11, and I just add 6 to 11.... 17!!!