The main fight of the mixed martial arts evening came after eight before it. During the buildup I was struck by how different it was to witness a fight in person instead of watching on television. As a novice observer, the sport did not seem to have any rules. Opponents had no idea what was going to them next. Each had a style of her/his own. While one could try and anticipate, there were few leading indicators of when or how potential opportunity were come for either side to exploit.
I thought of Roosevelt admiration for the man in the arena. In the day, he spoke of the willingness of some to get into life’s arena and compete at the highest level for the greatest values in life. To anyone willing to live to the maximum and fight with everything at stake, I offer the following observations from my meditation this morning.
Life unfolds in anticipated as well as unpredictable ways. Each time I think I know what is coming, a twist or turn hits leaving me bewildered and confused. Thinking of myself in the third person, my observation is that “You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk, you didn’t know which end was up.” (Psalm 107.27) In the chaos, one has choices. One can fight the flow. One can spend time figuring out if the moment at hand is good or bad, wanted or needed, helpful or less so.
There is an option that I often forget. In any given moment, regardless of how dizzy, confused, or uncertain I might find myself, I can focus on my intent and response. Last night I saw opportunities seized! Before I even realized there was an opportunity, intent and response were realized through action and a new battle begun.
Not every move works. At times it seemed as though the battle was over. To the one that never gave up, winning remained a possibility! As the main fight showed, underdogs can win against the odds.
Echoing the winner words; it is my time.
