I’ve wanted to write this blog for a couple months, but as any writer on any level—professional or not—will tell you, sometimes an idea has to bounce around your head for a period of time while you sort it out. Like the brief vision I wrote about yesterday; I had to think on it for a couple days before I could literally sit down and flesh it out in writing.
In that same vein, a couple months ago I was having one of my pity parties. “Woe is me, why do I have to be depressed? Why do I have to suffer so much chronic pain? Why can’t I make more money?” and on and on the party crasher in my head lamented.
Suddenly, these words almost shouted into my spirit:
“You’re not a loser, you’re a champion, so start acting like one!”
You may say it was the bright side trying to convince the dark side, you might say it was from God, but no matter the source of the message, it rocked me to my core.
A “champion?”
An, NO, sorry, you have me confused with someone else. I’ve failed at literally everything I’ve ever tried, with the glorious exception of being a husband and father. I could give you a list of failures as long as a yardstick to prove that, but I don’t think this is the time. Suffice it to say, nothing I’ve really put my heart and soul into has come to fruition.
“Champion?” I think not.
Still, the words haunted me, so I did a little digging, asking myself:
“What does it mean to be a champion?”
From my research, I gathered the following:
Champions have devoted themselves to assess, adapt and overcome (got that from my Army Drill Sargent).
They have character, consistency and courage.
They are marked by their discipline, motivation, positive attitude and focus.
They’re poised, prepared, can preform under pressure and know how to play through the pain.
They visualize and conceptualize.
They’re creative, confident and consistent.
Lastly, they BELIEVE they’re going to win and they never give up.
Notice I didn’t say “they have many successes under their belt.” I didn’t say “they have a plethora of notches on their belt.” I didn’t say “they have a trophy case full of shining testaments to their many championships.”
When I started my Facebook group for Christians who suffer from chronic physical and/or emotional pain, Broken People – Mended Spirits, we adapted the slogan, “Never give up, never give in, never surrender.”
Maybe THAT’S at the heart of a champion, and not “wins.” Maybe SURVIVAL is, in itself, a “win.”
Just maybe.
But there’s more to it, and this is the part I’m not so good at yet.
Champions don’t just survive, they train. Training means eating right and exercising. Training means getting rid of all the bad and only consuming the GOOD, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Yeah, I fall short at that, but hopefully I’ll get better over time.
For now, I have to be content with FIGHTING, and never giving up. Join me in this endeavor to thrive and survive, and we’ll all be champions.
See, you’re a champion and you didn’t even know it.
“Proclaim His majesty, all you mighty champions, you sons of Almighty God, giving glory and strength back to Him!”
Psalm 29:1
Blessings.
Broken People 