Movies aren’t what they used to be. I miss Mr. Miyagi and Ralph Macchio, don’t you? I love this segment in the first Karate Kid…and the scene comes to my mind often. I keep dreaming of becoming the victorious fighter at the end of the story-crowds shouting my name, everyone oohing and aahing, me doing something amazing.
Image from Karate Kid Website
But, alas, I find myself here in the mundane, ‘wax on, wax off,’ catching flies with chopsticks, wondering what will become of me (and assuming the ‘other guys’ have already beaten me to the fighting ring and stolen my moment of fame).
Image by Karate Kid Website
I remember my senior year in college. That entire year, I was anticipating the next one. I knew I’d be some place more glorious and important and I couldn’t see the point in all those tests, papers, and silly college day antics. Somewhere in the midst of that time, God brought the Karate Kid story to mind. And I suddenly realized that faithfulness in those small college-day tasks were God’s way of building muscles for what was coming next. God awakened me during that time to the importance of the little things and the way that hard work at waxing a car could mean the difference in 1st place or no place in later battles.
Today, I could use a refresher on this course. So, here I am again, sitting with Mr. Miyagi. It’s encouraging to me to think of all the Karate Kid types in Scripture and Christian history. Here are just a few:
- Moses was lost in nowheresville tending to sheep for years before God met him with a burning bush.
- Joseph was a slave and then a prisoner for years in Egypt before he became the second in command and saved all of Israel.
- Mary was just a young girl, faithful to her family and ready to live a normal simpleton life before the Holy Spirit entered and placed Jesus in her womb-making her favored among all women.
- William Carey was a shoemaker before he became a missionary to India, eventually to translate the Bible into lots of Indian languages and become famous for his role in beginning the new missionary movement.
- Lottie Moon, the famous female missionary to China, began as a schoolteacher who quietly cared for the poor in a small town in southern Georgia.
- Jesus himself was a small town boy, faithfully doing something simple like carpentry in a small town, until he revealed his true self-the GOD of the UNIVERSE.
Jesus’ words prove to be true, if only by looking at a few lives like these: ‘You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.’
These days, I find myself ready to be all that I can be. I’m ready for my ‘Karate Chop’ moment. I want the five cities, but Jesus is just calling me now to be faithful with this month’s wages. I think I need to slow down, look at the car before me, and enjoy the muscle strengthening exercise of ‘wax on, wax off.’ And what’s so bad about joining the ranks of Moses and Joseph (son of Jacob) and Mary?
BUT, (here’s the kicker) I also have to remember that I may never have my moment of Karate Kid fame in this life.
The truth is that most of us, 99% of us, will never be doing something that would constitute fame here on earth. Most of us will live our lives in relative obscurity. Most of us won’t make that much money, look all that beautiful, or do things that will make the history books. I’d love to be Lottie Moon, but most likely, I’ll just be ‘little ol’ me.’ The two parables of the stewards in Matthew 25 and Luke 19 seem (correct me if I’m wrong) to say that the ‘greater things’ aren’t actually granted until after the master’s return. i.e. no lasting promotion until Jesus comes back.
And that should be okay. I mean, what’s a few moments of glory here compared with an eternity of enjoyment with Jesus? God may be, and probably is, using these mundane moments to prepare for me some greater challenges ahead in this life. But, most importantly, God is calling me to faithfulness with the things He’s placed in my hands-today. And somehow, my faithfulness here and now matters for eternity. The small things of earth are preparation for the things He may have for me in the ’sweet by and by.’
So, here I sit on this Monday morning and ask God, “Lord, help me faithfully and humbly do all that you set before me today. Help me to be faithful in these small things. Help me to be patient for ‘bigger things’ ahead. And yet, give me contentment here on earth, knowing that the real time of reward and fulfillment is further on up the road…when I see you face to face. In the Name of the Only One who can make my Monday mean something more, Amen.
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I often feel God reminds me to slow down and remember to be faithful in all the “small” things He’s already put in my life (parenting, homeschool, being an excellent wife, etc.) instead of feeling discontentment about not doing something seemingly more significant. I really enjoyed your post – thank you!
another great post!!
i went thru a really tough time after college and a dear friend shared a wisdom with me that has always stayed. it’s the verse in the psalms (and the song, if you will) “better is one day in your court than a thousand elsewhere” .. paraphrased to better is one day in the will of the Lord than a thousand doing what i want to do. better is one day with Him than a thousand being recognized, etc… it was such a humbling thought and still is!! now that i’m a mommy i feel this need even greater. i love what kika says in her comment… ditto for me!
misty’s last blog post..Letters to Myself, Part 4