The judoka as a saint

I was in the dojo this morning while the champion women's team were debriefing their new members who competed last Sunday.  I stopped myself from intruding in the discussion, but I was quietly caught by the message.

I realized that::
1. As martial athletes we are disciplined to be humble, because our pride will be our demise.
2. Our code of discipline instructs us to be "concerned with the welfare of others" and our social structure imposes us to be responsible, as sempai to the kohai.
3. We depend upon our team, from whom we draw strength, who's collective glory it is we wish to pursue.
4. (This is the part that I caught earlier) We draw confidence from being a part of the team, not as our individual self. Whether as a 6-year incumbent champion team, or a team who used to be champion and on its pursuit to regain its former glory, the team gives us confidence because of our association to it.

I pondered on these points to draw a parallel with Charles Stanley's message a few days back (encapsulated below).  When I think about it, our discipline mirrors the saintly life, which the apostle Paul exemplified.

Notice that sainthood does not come after death, and is not conferred by men.  Perhaps, our team experience is God's way of introducing to us what our attitude should be as we commit our lives to Him as our Lord.

The Attitude of a Saint
By Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 15:9-11 (New International Version)
"For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.  No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.  Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed."

The apostle Paul had a certain mindset that Christians are wise to emulate (1 Cor. 11:1). His attitude included:
1. Humility. Pride cannot hide in the heart of a believer who understands divine mercy. Paul spread the gospel because he believed that the grace which was sufficient to save a sinner like him was adequate for anyone.
2. A sense of obligation. The apostle never lost sight of how far God's grace had brought him. He frequently reminded followers of his role in persecuting the church (1 Tim. 1:13). Paul's gratitude for salvation from that former life never waned. The book of Acts records the almost constant turmoil and heartache of his travels, and yet he kept praising the Lord for the privilege of serving.
3. A sense of dependence. To describe the source of his strength, Paul used these words: "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10). He knew what it was like to depend upon one's own goodness and work to be religious— and he wanted no part of it. Paul desired more of Jesus and none of himself (Phil 3:8).
4. A spirit of absolute confidence. At the end of his life, Paul was as certain as ever that God was real, in charge, and worthy of all honor, glory, and praise (2 Tim. 4:6-8).


Do you see these attitudes in yourself? If not, borrow a page from the apostle Paul's "playbook." Praise the Lord for all that He has done for you, and then get busy working for His kingdom. Do not allow His grace to be poured out on your life in vain (1 Cor. 15:10).

Tell the one that you know
Tell the one that you love
Tell the one in your arms, it's them
You're thinkin' of
Tell the one on the street
And everyone you meet
Face to face

  performed by Fighter, in the album The Waiting (1991)