I want to share something with you that I shared with our congregation this past Sunday. When I was a kid, and even through my teen years, I frequently spent my Saturday afternoons with my dad watching sports on TV. The opening act was the Pro Bowler’s Tour, hosted by Chris Shenkel and Nelson Burton Jr. (I can almost hear some of you snickering and saying that bowling isn’t really even a sport, given the physical conditioning of some of the bowlers you’ve met. I get it.)

Then came our Saturday headliner, with Jim McKay announcing, “spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports.” It’s funny. I can’t for the life of me remember what was shown for “the thrill of victory,” but I definitely remember the poor guy tumbling off the ski lift in “the agony of defeat!” I digress.

The best part of Wide World was when they showed boxing. Wide World taught me to love the beauty of the dance. And one of the very best I watched during those days was a Cuban amateur boxer named Teofilo Stevenson.

Stevenson was that rare combination of speed, grace, and power. At 6 ft, 5 inches tall, he was an imposing heavyweight, possessing knockout power but catlike agility. I watched in awe as he dismantled opponent after opponent in the 1972, 1976, and 1980 Olympics, winning gold each time. I often wondered how he would fare against professional boxers like Ali, Frazier, and Foreman. I watched them all, both amateur and professional, and as I look back on those days something occurs to me.

Boxing is a sport with rounds – usually 3 minutes long – with breaks in between. At the end of each round, the boxer returns to his corner, where a stool is waiting for him to come and rest. There are “corner men” there: a “cut man” to take care of any damage his opponent may have done to his skin; a man to give him a drink and wipe the sweat; and a manager to advise him on fight tactics.

No matter how big or small the boxer is; no matter how strong or weak he is; no matter if he is winning or losing, every fighter has these breaks in the bout to retreat, refresh, and ready himself for the next round.

There have been times in my Christian walk where I’ve felt like Teofilo Stevenson, ready to dismantle any opponent. There have been other times where I’ve felt more like the one being dismantled! But here’s the thing: God has provided a “corner” for me to retreat, refresh, and ready myself for the next round. Jesus Himself showed me how, when He would go off alone to the place of prayer. If He chose to take time in between rounds, how much more should we?

By the way – as good as Stevenson was, he wasn’t invincible. In his 334 career fights, he lost 22 of them and was even knocked out once! I need to remember that on the days where I feel invincible. Even then, I need to come back to my corner, where I have Someone better than any cut man, better than any corner man, and better than any manager waiting to not only get me ready for the next round, but come WITH me. And if you’re facing a fight right now He’s there for you too.

Until the next turn,

Gordon