wrestling defeat into victory

Spiritual resource to share: constancy


Last Saturday, I spent hours at my son's wrestling meet taking it all in, when right in the middle of the bleachers in the middle of the day, I felt a blog coming on, and just had to write what I was seeing that day.

There is something to be said about the energy level of an auditorium filled with hundreds of kids, their adoring fans of family and friends, and the coaches who have worked with these kids, ages maybe 5 to 14 years old, for years. It's all good. Everyone cheers for their favorite, but there is no opposition. Everyone is being cheered on to do their best. Although it is thrilling to see the kids on your team win, I was really struck at what happens when a team member has a defeat.

Our coaches had an empowering impact on my son after he lost his two matches. Coaching him with practice moves and encouragement right before the match, cheering him on, yelling encouragement and instructions during the match, they were right there after the defeat, keeping that momentum of confidence going.

Their ability to depersonalize defeat, analyze where the problem was and where the improvement needs to be helped to keep thought focused on what is still possible. I saw it in my son's eyes: he was disappointed, but more determined; sad that he didn't win, but already figuring out how he could do better. The fact that they believe in their wrestlers' integrity and developing skill was continuous throughout the meet.

This whole episode was such a great example of God's love for each of us: constant, unwavering and ennobling.

On our spiritual journeys, we encounter storms, defeat, victory, the whole spectrum of human experience. But it is in the moments of defeat that hope enters in and we can still see God working in our lives, we can still see possibilities for good.

When Mary Baker Eddy writes,

Human affection is not poured forth vainly, even though it meet no return. Love enriches the nature, enlarging, purifying, and elevating it.

...it makes me think that nothing we do out of a pure heart can ever be defeated. I think that when we love a sport, a project, even a person, it is the love that we pour into our lives, lived out through how we love, how we work and how we play; it is that love that always enlarges and elevates our nature. In that way, our defeats always turn into victories.




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