Story Time

The following story is from the message at our church last Sunday that I thought you two would appreciate...

One of our pastors relayed a sermon by Tony Campolo of a story of a kid who, because of a terrible automobile accident, ended up losing his left arm. His father, trying to cheer him up, told his son he would do anything for him. One day the kid said, “You know, Dad, I’ve heard you can learn judo and do it with one arm. I’d like to learn judo.”

So the father got him a judo master, and the kid learned some moves. But after about 2 or 3 lessons, the master had him focus on just one move, and they worked on this move day after day, hour after hour. At the end of two months, the master said, “There’s a tournament coming up. I want you to enter it.” The kid said, “You’ve got to be kidding! I’ve only been taking judo for a couple of months. Other than basic moves I only know one really good move.” But the master convinced him to give it a try.

They went to the tournament. And this one-armed kid surprised himself by winning his first two matches. The third round proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win that match as well. He couldn’t believe his good fortune. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. He was up against the champion. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the judo master intervened.

"No," the master insisted, "Let him continue."

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: He dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home he said to the master, “I don’t understand it. I’ve only been taking judo for two months. I don’t have a left arm. And I just won a tournament. How is this possible?”

The master said, “You won for two reasons. First, the one move you do now is one of the most effective moves in all of judo. The second reason why you won is the only defense against that move is to grab your opponent’s left arm.” 

God indeed uses our weaknesses and turns them into strengths.  Praying for you all this week that you will experience the joy and freedom of this truth even when it is hard to believe...