Rocky part 1

I have to admit…..one of my favorite movies right now is the last Rocky movie, titled Rocky Balboa. You can call me shallow, weird, whatever, but this movie has everything. It shows a once famous, wealthy, Italian Stallone trying to deal with life in the best way he knows how. In the beginning of the movie we see that his wife, Adrian, who was his rock, has passed away. Yeah he still has ole “mentally irregular” Pauly still around, but he still feels like there is something he needs. Well if you have seen the movie, you know how the movie goes. If you have not seen the movie, I will not spoil it for you!!

There is this one particular part in the movie towards the end when he is fighting the Champ at the time, Mason Dixon.  It’s the 12^th round, and man he takes a shot from Dixon. As he feels his beaten up, bloody, bruised body falling, uncontrollably to the mat, he is able to drop to one knee and stabilize himself with his hand. He then has a conversation with himself

“What was it you said to the kid? It’s not how hard you can hit, but it’s how hard you can get hit…..and keep moving forward….how much you can take…and …keep…moving…forward.”

If you watch this part of the movie and you feel absolutely nothing, go ahead and place your right index and middle finger on the inside of your left wrist and check your pulse!!!

Now even though this is just a movie…..it’s more than that to me. I love the Rocky movies. They are very inspiring to me.

But I am able to identify with Rocky. This is how I apply this particular part of the movie to my life.  It’s not about how much you say you love and trust Jesus, it’s in those times when it feels like He is in another galaxy that you find out how much you truly love and trust Jesus.

There were many times, most recently around lunch time today, when I felt like there was about to be a TKO. But as I reflect on today’s events I can see that the peace of God was in the midst of my “turmoil”.

I’m taking about the hits that life throws at me, and I have no choice but to rely on the strength, mercy, and peace of God, and make a choice to trust in God, and to keep moving forward.

When your life feels like it’s in the 12th round and you are gasping for air….it hurts to breathe, then life throws a right cross and connects it to your chin……where’s your shalom!!

Is it knocked out for the count?

Does the ref hold up the “opponent’s” hands in victory?

Or are you able to trust in God and allow Him to give you the strength to get up, even though it hurts, look at the opponent like you are saying “that’s’ all you got”, and keep moving forward?

Without God as the center of my life….I am nothing, nothing more than a TKO!!!

Oh, but there is more to this than just movies, trust, and moving forward…….