Action movies often come with an action star. No really, that does seem to be part of the formula. In some cases, this action star comes with a particular system of martial arts. As the system is martial, those systems all seem to have one thing in common - hurting people. This is not to say that the experts in these systems desire to harm anyone, just that whether in offense or defense the system of moves and blows is designed to cause damage to the human body so that the opponent is incapacitated, hurt, or hopefully only as a last resort, killed. Today seemed like a good time to introduce a new system for our defense in these tough times.
As is the case with every system, we start with the basic position. Take your hands and stretch them out flat, fingers together and thumbs folded. Now, sitting, standing, or kneeling, the body position is not that important here, place those hands together and address your Heavenly Father. We'll call this the prayer position. Some of you may have to make adjustments due to age or arthritis, but try to get those hands together. Do this often throughout your day, talking with God in every kind of situation. Why is this the basic position for our system?
We live in a peaceful land for the most part. Unless you have reason to walk the tough side of town or the wrong side of the tracks today, you and me will probably not be physically threatened in any way. However, we are under constant attack from those powers and principalities that Paul warned us of in his letter to the Ephesians. Temptations, lies, slander, scoffing, and other forms of attack will be heaped upon us today. Our best defense is in taking our needs and desires to God our Father.
After we have mastered the prayer position, let us take up the helping position. Take those hands, one or both, and extend them out to help another person. Hold open a door for a person today. Male or female, younger or older, it doesn't matter when helping. As a part of this position, practice your resistance training too. Resist making some pert comment such as 'age before beauty' to a senior citizen. After all, in God's eyes that person may be both more beautiful and of senior position to you. More advanced resistance training: resist the comeback that crosses your mind when the other person makes that smart remark. Bless them instead.
Take a hand and place it on a chair for your cubicle neighbor to keep the chair from rolling back on him. Did he look at you suspiciously? Hmm, have a bit of history there to overcome? Did he remember that stunt you pulled many years ago? Yes, the world does remember those things forever it seems. Some positions may require much practice before we are trusted to use them in the workplace.
Related to the helping position is the giving position. In this, the left hand does not know what the right hand does as we extend it out to give away our money, time, effort, and resources to a person in need. Again, continue in your resistance training by pushing away that thought of reward or acclaim for the act of giving, Instead, give the glory to God in prayer by returning to the basic position after practicing the giving move. Remember also that there is no correct or minimum amount when giving. Give when you can and in whatever form or amount that you can.
We can practice many other moves in this system such as the Prostrate Humility, the Celebration Stretch, or the Thanksgiving Kneel. The great thing about this system is that those who cannot kneel, stretch, clasp hands, lay flat, bend in some ways, or any other physical disadvantage can still pray, give thanks, worship, and give the glory to God.
Enjoy the day in Christ,Bucky
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