Karate Lesson

Photo credit: AnnaKovalchuk via Pixabay

When our older son was learning Kung Fu San Soo we bought him the original 1984 Karate Kid movie.  
 
When the scene where  all of Daniel’s “training” comes together came on, I pointed it out to him. We marveled at the revelation of the blocking movements he learned, but our son said there was a lesson in the scene far more important than those blocks.
 
“Mr. Miyagi kepts saying, ’Look eye. Always look eye,’” he said. “One of the very first things they teach you is to look your opponent in the eye, never at his hands or feet. If you focus on his hands you’ll miss his feet, and vice versa. If you focus on his eyes, you will be able to see everything you need to in your peripheral vision.”
 
That concept resonated with me.
 
I struggle with focus. One theme, in this season of my life, is keeping all the plates spinning. Be sure everyone is where they need to be, when they need to be, with everything they need and are fed, clothed, clean, and as mentally and emotionally stable as possible. Distraction, or even choosing which plate to focus on, is a constant struggle.
 
Imagine the number of plates Jesus had and how focused He had to be. Without money, power, status, a college degree, social media, and with no fixed address, He had three years to turn twelve knuckleheads (as John Eldredge fondly refers to the apostles) into world-changers. His focus had to be incredible.
 
In John 5:19 He says, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (NIV)
 
Later in John 12:49 He says, I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. (NLT)
Oh to be so in the moment, the flow, that you know second by second the best thing to do and say.
 
I can picture Him walking the road from Galilee, stopping to heal blind eyes while blocking and throwing off Pharisees, raising His hands and calmly but firmly parting the angry crowd without even a roundhouse kick or a “hi-YA!”  I wonder if Grand Master Jesus wore His tenth-degree black belt under His robes.
 
With focus like that we could deeply and effectively love on those in front of us while pummeling fear, doubt, and worry.
 
It’s certainly something to wax on.

#focus #heisnotwhatyouthink #jesusninjathisiknow

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