“Location, Location, Location”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few years ago a mom was talking to me about classes and while she really loved our Christian centered program, she wanted something closer and easier for her to get to – so she enrolled her son in another program that cost twice as much, was not Christ centered, but was 10 minutes closer. That lasted a few months and they quit – which was no surprise at all.

One of our new brown belts is also a Pastor at a church in Sandy Oregon. Sandy Oregon! You guessed it – that means that each week he drives almost an hour each way to train with us at Whole Armor Martial Arts! Wow…..

Do you see the difference in those two examples? One was only concerned with convenience and the other sacrifices for something more valuable. One didn’t last, and one is still growing and learning amazing things and I have no doubt will be one of our Black Belts one day.

Now don’t get me wrong – location and convenience can be very important considerations. But they’re not the only considerations either.

My wife has MS. It’s a nasty disease that really plays tricks with you from day to day. Sometimes she has real difficulties, but she always gives it her best. Especially when it comes to ministry, which for her is playing piano at church. She walks with some effort using a cane, or a walker on bad days, and sometimes it’s a real struggle just to make it to the car, let alone to church and then up on stage to play. But she makes what sometimes is a heroic effort, blesses a lot of folks with her talent, and I’m pretty sure God is real proud of her too. And she is always blessed immeasurably.

So when I hear people say that they were just too tired to get up to go to church, or just didn’t feel like coming to Karate class – I think of my wife and our brown belt from Sandy. And I remember that the greatest blessings often come as a result of our greatest efforts and sacrifice.

Matthew 7:13-14 tells us: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

As Christian Martial Artists, lets be one of those few – willing to drive the extra miles, make the extra effort, or do whatever it takes to live lives that experience all the amazing things that God has in store for us!