Philippians 3:12-16 (NIV)

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

The Olympic Games Paris 2024. WOW! Paris. Beautiful place, right? The dates: July 26, 2024 – August 11, 2024. Keep pushing could be the theme of the Olympic Games. Be it winter or summer. I’m kinda/sorta a fan of the Olympic Games. I’m very much in awe of the talent and determination of the Olympic players. Or should I say, athletes? Which is the more politically correct? Oh well.

This year’s Olympic Games I’m sure will be filled with stories, drama, and the emotion of the National Anthem being played for any American gold mentalists. The spirit of competition will definitely be present for all—the ones who win and the ones who don’t. I admire each one of them for the dedication it takes to be an Olympian. The hours of training are overwhelming in my mind.

Photo by Andre Ouellet on Unsplash

It’s kind of like life. Not everyone has an easy time of it. Especially when dealing with obstacles. How we deal with those obstacles is key. What do we do when things don’t go according to plan? Getting off track when we fail—do we live our faith?

Paul wrote to the Philippians and told them he understood what it was like to get off track. He told them he chose to go forward with faith and that he wanted to continue to meet his goal. Paul tells us all that when we face adversity, we have to get real about where we are. If it’s our mistake, admit it. If we’re stuck, then say we’re stuck. Remember in this letter to the Philippians, Paul is conveying all of this from jail. He’s in jail for preaching God’s love. Can you imagine that happening to us today? Never you might think. Well, think again. We’ve all witnessed things over the past several years that we at one time thought would never happen. But happen they have.

Paul writes that he’s not perfect but he must press on. He tells us to move forward through it, learning and growing from our past. He wants us to learn from our mistakes. Sadly, people seldom learn from success. They do, however, learn more from mistakes.

Here’s what happens when we get off track:

1. Live in fear (alcohol or drugs)

2. Become bitter and resentful

3. Despair—hopelessness about the future.

Now, here’s what happens when we keep pushing forward:

1. Admit and accept our failures

2. Grow and learn from them.

It’s good to keep in mind that what has happened in anyone’s past doesn’t define that person’s future. Press on and keep pushing forward in faith. God cares about us and will give us strength to deal with anything.

I love the sport of boxing. Yes, I said it. I love every Rocky movie out there. I loved Cinderella Man the movie about James J. Braddock the epitome of pushing forward. If you ever want to listen to the true definition of moving or pushing forward watch the 2006 movie Rocky Balboa. It’s called the “Rocky Speech.” His son is off track. He feels he’s standing in his father’s shadow and can’t seem to catch a break for himself. Take a moment and check it out. Just Google “Rocky Speech to his son.”

So, I do love boxing. It’s an amazing sport where you must lean into your own abilities. There’s no one else in that ring helping you out. You must take the punches. You must do the work. A boxer has trainers and managers but the boxer is in control of his body and his workouts. He’s the one in the ring with his sparing partner and his opponent. This is why I love it.

Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash

Speaking of fighters, my Grandma suffered for many years with diabetes. She was a full-blown, insulin-pushing, multiple side effects, Type 1 Diabetic. She lost almost all of her toes and later became bedridden until her death. I was nine when she passed. There aren’t enough words to express just how much I loved her in the few years I knew her. She was as selfless a person as I’ve ever known. She bore twelve children and made sure they never wanted for anything, even at the cost of going without for herself. Her patience was never-ending. She never uttered a word of complaint. She lost two children. One in a fire and one as an infant. A lady beyond description. She was my hero.

I mention her because she is the person Paul speaks of. She knew the heart of the game. She kept pushing forward through the pain, through the millions of injections, through the losses. She was one of those people who say, “I press on toward the goal of Christ.” I loved her with all my heart.

How will folks remember you for the way you dealt with adversity?

Will they remember you for letting it beat you?

Or will you be the one who knows the heart of the game?

Will you be the one who gets punched and keeps moving and pushing forward?

In the words of Rocky Balboa, “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows.”

And that’s what I learned in Church……see ya next time!