Hooojiicha!
The title is actually a type of Japanese green tea, but it sounds like the perfect Kung Fu Onomatopeia to me. I am learning defense from a mix of martial arts that my friend Ryan (check out his blog) is skillfully teaching me. In addition to it being totally cool to learn, it dawned on me that there were some spiritual metaphors to draw on. For example:
- In the physical you are suppose to in move towards your opponent, close the distance and address the point of contact. It might seem illogical to go towards the danger, but thats best. In the same way spiritually we shouldn't back down or wait to be attacked. We have nothing to fear because our confidence is in Christ "The Lord is my shepherd, I will fear no evil." (Psalm 23 ) We were meant to charge the gates, not wait while being attacked. Who ever hear of gates attacking? (Matt.16:18 ) We are more than conquerors. (Rom 8:36-38)
- Always have your "check" hand up. So if you're a righty, then your left hand guards the middle of your chest, ready to move. "Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life" (Prov. 4:23), "Be ready" in season and out for attack as well as watchful for when Jesus returns. (Luke 12:35-40)
- Strength doesn't matter. It's not about striving. Its doesn't matter if your opponent is bigger than you, if you understand technique and body mechanics you can disarm them and lay them out on the floor. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit. says the Lord Almighty."(Zech 4:6)
- Use your whole body not just one part to counter attack. If you use just your arm without the rest of your body force to counter, besides just looking silly your are much more vulnerable and weak. Unity gives greater force. If we, as the body of Christ, are to work together how much greater force and impact would we have. All parts of the christian body, all denominations, all with different gifts and appointments need to work together (1 Cor. 12:12-31)
So there are some thoughts as I am just beginning to learn. Related to this, one of my favortie movies is Lara Croft. Now I never had a great desire to see it; I had dismissed it as a video game knock-off action flick. However, after our pastor's wife talked about her desire to be in the spiritual as Lara is in the physical, I was interested. So here is my plug to see. The movie begins with Lara raiding a tomb for a treasure and has a huge fight with this machine out to kill her. She whups it and the whole thing was just a training set up. She is definately ready in season and out. The whole point of the movie is that she is doing her father's will to stop the bad guys from getting something that would give them authority or power in a physical and spiritual realm. Her father had passed away, so he has left her clues how to achieve her mission. She is always so positive in the face of death, she knows where her confience comes from. Good stuff. So everyone put on your best fake British accent, grab your sword of the spirit (Bible), and get your groove on.
posted by Lisa @ 1:09 PM
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