I had to make some changes this last winter, and one of them was adding something that challenged me. I had won a gift certificate at a Martial Arts Studio in a fundraiser. No one wanted to go; I tried pawning it off on kids, so I thought I would try it. That definitely got me OUT of my box. My box is big. I am not afraid of trying anything once. This has been an interesting venture. So interesting that I signed up for more.
I am learning things. I am not too proud is one thing I have learned. I was thinking I needed a slower processing class. The thought had briefly gone through my mind when I went to a class and was with the little kids. Initially I thought it would be awkward but actually it turned out really good. I am even lower than their level. That’s a good way to learn. Actually, the few classes I have been in with kids, I have learned more than the classes with adults!
The first thing I learned is you line up by rank. I know, since I am a white belt, there can be none lower. Then there were kids with white belts in a different rank line than myself. But on their white belt, there were two black stripes. That meant they were a bit higher. Of course there were kids with green, blue and yellow belts in the class. They were ahead of me. Later when I was quizzing the teacher about something I didn’t understand he clued me in on the belts. Each color belt and stripes on the belt tells them what to expect from the child. I have nothing on my white belt. They expect nothing from me. That was a relief! The little girl with the two black stripes on her white belt, she should know a bit more. I felt great. I had NO expectations. I will step to the challenge and get to a bar on my white belt. And to do that, I need to be able to do the patterns. I can front block, side block, jab, side kick, front kick, high block and do the horse riding stance. I may look like a 61 year old doing a kids game, but it’s been really good for my mind not to mention my heart!
If only in our lives would we wear belts so that others would know what they can expect from us. On any given day, my emotions can be swinging faster than a rope bridge over the canyon with a bunch of teenage boys on it. You walk by and say something, not seeing the stripe or color of my belt, and I fall apart! I see someone smiling. I think they are happy but if they had a belt on telling me they were hurting inside, I could stop and intentionally spend more time with them rather than hurry on my way.
I probably won’t make it to black belt but I have learned alot and it’s a great physical work out and something that stretches my mind and my old body. And when I look at another’s heart, I pray that God shows me the color of belt or stripes so I know what to expect and how I can love them the way they need to be loved.
Special Touch Ministry 