Integration

Why is it that we can slave to better an arm bar but can't put forth an extra effort to better our character. Yea, it is hard t0 become a good fighter and it is even harder to become a good teacher, friend, mom, dad, child, wife, husband or employee...Your work ethic in your gym or at your job should not be your greatest achievements in life. People will work so hard for money, muscles and glory yet they can't even manage to please their family and friends. We are lazy when it comes to pleasing others. If we can fight through the pain of fatgue and failure in the gym, why can't we at home? If we can be so committed to a certain goal in our workouts, why can't we keep our marriage vows? Every day is a battle when we are confronted with the fact that we are born self-centered and by the power of God, don't want to be. As the apostle Paul says in Romans 7:25 "So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." You know when ever a phrase starts with , so then or therefore, you always have to back track and see where their coming from. He says here, "with the mind I myself". This is a key phrase in the scripture. He states in the earlier scriptures that what he "wills" to do he does not do, but what he "wills not" to do, that he does. The proof of his salvation lies in the fact that he "wills" to do good. His mind is at war with his actions. This doesn't mean he only does bad things all the time but that when he does, he can't stand it. Some people don't care. They don't care about what they do. Paul is saying that although my actions don't always show it, my desire is to please the Lord. When your desire is to please the Lord, then thank God because He Himself has spoken to you. He has revealed to you the truth and softened your heart of stone. As Jesus said in Mark 14:38, "The Spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak."

Now if we can work so hard for our own glory and acheivements, why can't we do the same for others. There is a parrallel between the physical and the spiritual. I see all kinds of parrallels in my jiu-jitsu training and my walk with God and man. Imagine what kind of relationships we would have and how much more peace there would be if we could take the same energy we use with our physical training and train in godliness. 1 Timothy 4:8 says "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." We are designed to love and live by God. He is our one true joy. Nothing else comes close. My best day in jiu-jitsu does not compare to my joy in God. God gives me joy in what I do and why I do it. He gives me purpose that is everlasting.

Martial Arts has always had some "spiritual" connection because it is meant, as all things are, to help us grow in our relationship with God. Some of us ignore it. Some of us abuse it, pervert it and distort it. But God is the Alpha an Omega. In Christ He has redeemed all things and reconciled them to Himself. To me there is a special integration in my martial arts training and my walk with God. This integration effects everything I do. It is a beautifull process of refinement that only God has the power and grace to perform. I thank God for his work in my life, the joy He allows me to know and the passion He gives me to reconcile the martial arts back to Him.