The veteran prize fighter fell against the ropes as a result from the crushing blows to the head and the abdomen that were given him by his youthful opponent. He dropped to his knees and felt like the world was closing in. He had been here before many times. The pain in his head and body effected his thoughts and he felt like he could not continue the fight. In a flash of seconds, his mind raced through the many fights of the past and how he was somehow able to obtain the victory and remain a champion. However, this was the toughest fight he had faced. He was older now and the punches that would not have affected him a few short years ago now felt like daggers that went to the very core of his being. His mind went back to his amateur days as a young fighter. In one particular fight, he was on the ropes and had been beaten badly by a huge opponent that was a giant compared to his size. The larger fighter had come in like a sudden tornado in the desert and had controlled the fight with his size and power. He was going down and was on his knees. He was hearing voices from his manager and the corner crew but their voices were lost in his pain and the desire to quit. Then he heard it. It was internal to him. A voice that was sharp, powerful and overwhelming. The voice shouted out in his mind and simply said, “Quiting is not an option! You have trained too hard for this day!” The young fighter begin to feel his strength rise within him. He gathered this strength and stood to face the giant. In a few short, well placed and powerful blows the giant began to crumble. One minute later, the young fighter stood victorious over the giant in a surprising victory that stunned the boxing world.

That had been many years ago and the young fighter had not lost since. He had been on the ropes many times but the internal voice kept ringing in his ears; “Quiting is not an option! You have trained too hard for this day!” But now he was tired. His body bruised and battered. He was scarred physically and emotionally from the years of facing opponents that were hungry to defeat him. But the voice was still there. This time he would not listen. He was ready to lay down and give it all up. But the voice was still there. The referee was counting, the crowd was roaring, the opponents corner was declaring a victory. Somehow he had to stand and finish his fight. He thought of all the work and training. He thought of his family. He could not lay down defeated while he could rise and fight! His body was older and worn but he had wisdom. He knew he could beat this hungry adversary. He had too much invested in his own life to give his championship to a young, unproven opponent. He could feel the strength returning as it had many times before. In less than one minute, he was standing victorious over the body of the limp, unconscious opponent. The crowd in the arena was wild with surprise. The announcers called this the come back of the century. The feeling in the heart of the prize fighter could not have been bought for any price. He had won another victory and this would not be his last.

Our life is exactly like the prize fighter. We train each day in preparation for the next fight, struggle or obstacle. A fighter often trains intensly for six months before his next fight. Unlike the fighter, we don’t know when our next fight will be. That is why we must live each day in tune with the voice. “Quitting is not an option! You have trained too hard for this day!” Sometimes it seems like we are down for the count and everything within us screams it is much easier to give up and lay down. However, the voice is still there. We must embrace the obstacles of life with the same attitude a prize fighter has to have in order to win. In the Bible, Paul compares this life to a fight and also a race. It is a fight to be won and a race to be run. There is no time to lay down and be defeated by opponents that seem to big and powerful for us. Any circumstance is only as strong as you allow it to be.

When you are discouraged, worn and ready to quit, remember the Fight. The voice is still there.

As my darling Julie says, Love, Love.   Tony