Unexpected Strength

[happyrain]

Another great reading from awakin.org

A 10-year-old boy decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.

The boy began lessons with an old judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move.

The boy finally said, “Teacher, should I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the teacher replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the teacher took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the teacher intervened and said, “No, let him continue.” The match resumed, the boy's opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and his teacher reviewed every move in each and every match. Finally, the boy summoned the courage to ask what was truly on his mind, “Teacher, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the teacher answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.” The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.

https://www.awakin.org/v2/read/view.php?tid=2729

Interesting dynamics here. God is our teacher. What we perceive as weakness may be a strength in the eyes of the Lord. Perspective shifts. We are unique personalities, we do not know the extent of our own personality- and we are quick to condemn our own quirkiness by some erroneous thought that our personality must fit a particular mold. Can we find strength in our struggles?

What is the perceived flaw? And, with a compassionate mind, what strength might be extracted from it?

[Sandy]

That is wonderful, Eric...thank you! I now wish to look deeper and see if I can find "strength in my struggles."
xxSandy

[Starwalker]

Weaknesses don’t become strengths on their own though. If that were the case they wouldn’t be weaknesses. It was the boys struggle to learn the judo move that helped him turn his weakness into a strength. Our struggles make us strong. And it also helps to have a very wise teacher.

[happyrain]

Absolutely. If the boy didn't want to learn, where would he be? And, one step further, the only known defense against the boys training means having a left arm to grab. Considering God as the teacher, I have Faith that God is training us in the manner best suited for our personalities. The eternal plan so to speak, and the ways we advance are equally unique- one size does not fit all... It's interesting to think God can turn a supposed weakness into a strength. I really loved this story.

Asking my self... I grew up being a "heart on my sleeve" kind of guy. This was full of unique lessons, some people may have considered it a weakness- but I do not think of it as such. If anything it has helped me learn a lot of things... Patience, Sincerity- and even subtler... Sensing and feeling, practicing Faith.

Wow there's actually a ton to come out of what may be considered by society a "character flaw"
Hmm...

[Sandy]

...Yes, I was thinking "faith" too when I read your last post, Eric. The heart-on-the-sleeve thing. In some ways, when you do that... live in that way...you are hoping and trusting that at least some good somewhere will come from this. I believe it does, even when perhaps initially rebuffed, rejected. Some people build such tight walls around themselves that the inial rejection to the heart seemingly just sits there...but at some point in their life ...well, life is full of potentials and lessons ...I don't know really what I am saying or where I am going with this but I am glad you are the heart-on-your-sleeve kind of guy. Being true to ourselves, our hearts, and our souls is so important.
I hope and pray the world soon learns to accept and cherish each unique personality.

xxSandy

[Starwalker]

We all have weaknesses. There is certainly no shame in them, for weakness is not wickedness. And we don’t have to struggle all the time to correct weaknesses. It may be a better use of our time to focus on our strengths. God’s grace has given us plenty of time to perfect ourselves.

Wearing your heart on your sleeve takes courage in this world, the heart being the part of the mind where our emotions exist. It’s through the heart that God speaks to us. But sometimes people truly do have wickedness in their hearts and are deliberately mean and hurtful to others. And unfortunately that often gets worn on the sleeve as well.

So I think it’s more important to be pure of heart, no matter our weaknesses.

[Sandy]

You have me thinking, Jon. Sometimes people are just plain mean because they enjoy it...or they wear meanness on the sleeve, to tell everyone to back off, displaying perhaps a lack of trust or understanding of others.... maybe a form of self-protection. Some people have such emotional scars that they hide themselves under a mean facade. It is easier to be angry than face the traumas, the guilt, or the shame, etc. Of course, dealing with inner traumas gives you the chance to find peace with them, while finding a greater strength and confidence.
Some people don't understand or fear what others are about. Instead of listening and trying to understand, they make loud judgments without any real substance behind them. How can you know a person until you make a valid attempt to know them and where they are coming from?
I think the Creator God can love even those whom most humans call despicable because he understands every nuance of their personality. Why they think, say, and do the things they do. God sees us all as his children and loves us unconditionally. How I long to be able to do the same.
But I can see I have much work to do in this area.
xxSandy

[Starwalker]

Hi Sandy,
I guess it comes down to intent. I think what you are describing is more of a weakness. When people do this they are lacking the strength to fix what has gone wrong with them. It may come across to us as meanness, but really it’s just a coping mechanism. Reactions to threats or perceived threats would also fall in this category.

Jesus warned us that there are people who truly have wickedness in their hearts. They set out to do harm. I think this is a totally different thing. This is sin and iniquity and it will not be tolerated.

I’m reminded of the following words of Jesus:

Tell my children that I am not only tender of their feelings and patient with their frailties, but that I am also ruthless with sin and intolerant of iniquity. I am indeed meek and humble in the presence of my Father, but I am equally and relentlessly inexorable where there is deliberate evil-doing and sinful rebellion against the will of my Father in heaven. (UB, 159:3.9)

[Sandy]

Thanks Jon,
I am reminded of Lucifer. One of the brightest lights of his kind, and yet, Iniquity grew within, and he rejected light to his demise.
I could never understand how he could do what he did. I mean, he sat before Michael.hmm in a different way, so do we with his Spirit of Truth.
Now, I smile at myself and human nature, as we also know better and yet...fall short. Ah well, so many lessons. Best to learn them here if we can.
xxSandy

[Starwalker]

I thought of Lucifer after posting this as well. And I too still wonder how he went astray. Not only him, but all who followed. I know the UB explains it all very well, but I still don’t quite grasp it. I guess it came down to wrong thinking, which caused him to become mentally ill. That happens to us humans as well when we fail to control our thoughts. But we all have free will and choose our fates.

I’ve also contemplated the Spirit of Truth lately. They say at every crossroad he will speak to show us the way. But we have to listen and then follow the leading. I’m still working on it, but the desire fir direction is growing in me.

I think it’s important to remember that we are just getting our starts here. The judgements of eternal life are not for us to make. But I do believe that all who desire it will be given a chance, whether they were a good or bad in this life.

I’m reminded of the parable of the wedding feast. So I’ll end this post with some more words of Jesus to ponder.

173:5.2 (1894.5) “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a certain king who made a marriage feast for his son and dispatched messengers to call those who had previously been invited to the feast to come, saying, ‘Everything is ready for the marriage supper at the king’s palace.’ Now, many of those who had once promised to attend, at this time refused to come. When the king heard of these rejections of his invitation, he sent other servants and messengers, saying: ‘Tell all those who were bidden, to come, for, behold, my dinner is ready. My oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all is in readiness for the celebration of the forthcoming marriage of my son.’ But again did the thoughtless make light of this call of their king, and they went their ways, one to the farm, another to the pottery, and others to their merchandise. Still others were not content thus to slight the king’s call, but in open rebellion they laid hands on the king’s messengers and shamefully mistreated them, even killing some of them. And when the king perceived that his chosen guests, even those who had accepted his preliminary invitation and had promised to attend the wedding feast, had finally rejected his call and in rebellion had assaulted and slain his chosen messengers, he was exceedingly wroth. And then this insulted king ordered out his armies and the armies of his allies and instructed them to destroy these rebellious murderers and to burn down their city.

173:5.3 (1895.1) “And when he had punished those who spurned his invitation, he appointed yet another day for the wedding feast and said to his messengers: ‘They who were first bidden to the wedding were not worthy; so go now into the parting of the ways and into the highways and even beyond the borders of the city, and as many as you shall find, bid even these strangers to come in and attend this wedding feast.’ And then these servants went out into the highways and the out-of-the-way places, and they gathered together as many as they found, good and bad, rich and poor, so that at last the wedding chamber was filled with willing guests. When all was ready, the king came in to view his guests, and much to his surprise he saw there a man without a wedding garment. The king, since he had freely provided wedding garments for all his guests, addressing this man, said: ‘Friend, how is it that you come into my guest chamber on this occasion without a wedding garment?’ And this unprepared man was speechless. Then said the king to his servants: ‘Cast out this thoughtless guest from my house to share the lot of all the others who have spurned my hospitality and rejected my call. I will have none here except those who delight to accept my invitation, and who do me the honor to wear those guest garments so freely provided for all.’”