Principle #6: Acceptance (Letting go of X to embrace Y...)

 Recommendation: Watch "Principle #6: Acceptance" on GracieUniversity.com

(Disclaimer: I am not being paid/sponsored in any way to promote "Gracie University". I have found their "The 32 Principles" videos incredibly beneficial and I hope you do too! But it's not necessary to watch these videos to benefit from this blog.)

Thoughts:

Sometimes in our practice of Jiu Jitsu, you find yourself fighting for a losing position. You had a certain technique in mind, a certain hold or favorite sweep, and now for whatever reason the moment or opportunity is gone.

You now have two choices: Either fight for the lost position (and burn unnecessary energy), or practice acceptance of the situation and take a fresh look at things. 

At this point, when you accept that you are now in a new situation, your mind is free to think more clearly and naturally for what to do next. But if you are still fixated on the old move that is gone, the present moment is will now be lost.

Now how can we apply this principle to our spiritual walk with Christ?

One of the most dangerous pitfalls for a Christian to avoid is the idea that "God told me X...therefore I can't adapt and change to do Y."

I've seen this play out many times in different ways, and even had it affect me too.

But we must be careful about this!

Yes, God can speak to you and give you an idea or vision for the future about something. 

But, you and I are still fallible human beings--and often we hear what we want to hear.

Many times my own wife will tell me something, and I thought she was saying X, but in reality, she was saying Y.  Ask any couple who has been together for some time, and this is true!

And in our relationship with God, we must be careful too -- because this very same thing can and does happen.

Here's a classic example:

The story of Jonah is about a Jewish prophet who was called by God to go to the pagan city of Nineveh to preach to them about getting their lives right before God. At first he refused and ran the other way, but God intervened to get him back on track (insert story of the big fish/whale that swallowed Jonah and then later spit him up on the shore to get him back on track to go to Nineveh).

When Jonah preached, the city actually listened, and changed their ways! 

But Jonah was disappointed, because he saw God's forgiveness and compassion come into play on the people. He THOUGHT God would destroy them, but instead, God showed MERCY on them. The story ends with Jonah bitterly disappointed that he didn't get to see the divine destruction of the sinful city. 

He thought God said X, but God really said Y.

If Jonah had practiced this principle of Acceptance, he would've been able to walk the streets in joy as he saw the people with changed hearts and attitudes. He could've been like Ebenezer Scrooge, a changed man, dancing and rejoicing at how God's love can change any kind of human heart.

But instead, he sat ALONE and OUTSIDE the city, with bitter disappointment hanging on him like a wet blanket. He couldn't let go of what he thought would/should happen.

Work on practicing the principle of Acceptance, not just in your Jiu Jitsu, but in your life. 

There's more to experience, but the doorway is made of acceptance, not stubborn tenacity that holds onto what you wanted or thought should happen.

Keep Rolling,

Brian