I have always loved the first four Rocky movies (in fact, I wish there were only four because 5 and 6 were not very good at all), but the first one will always be my favorite. After the longshot Italian Stallion has taken world champ Apollo Creed all the way to the limit, the final bell of the final round finally rings. After pummeling and being pummeled for fifteen rounds, you hear the champ say to Rocky, "Not gonna be a re-match," to which Rocky replies, "Don't worry--don't want one!"
It astounds me how much emphasis our world places on winning.
I wonder if many of us have forgotten that honor, character, and endurance are built more through FINISHING rather than through WINNING?
Why did Rocky not want a re-match at that moment? Because he knew he had given every ounce of himself to fight the fight right in front of him. Regardless of what the scorecard would say, Rocky Balboa knew he had just fought the best fight of his life to date...even if the scorecard said he was on the losing end.
My daughter Maddie is experiencing the world of competitive sports. She is playing in a local church soccer league. I am proud of her effort as she is improving every time they practice and play. I am seeing her get better at passing the ball, being assertive, and running as hard as she can! Should all of that be discounted by the fact that her team hasn't yet won a game???
Sometimes we win because we WORK HARD and we FINISH WELL!
Many of Paul's writings in the New Testament deal with sports themes. Winning and losing are mentioned in a few places, but not nearly as much as the principles of competing by the rules, endurance and finishing well. In fact, in 2 Timothy, Paul's final letter written prior to his martyrdom, he shares these words:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."--2 Timothy 4:7
May we find value in the fact that we gave our absolute best effort and had nothing left to give rather than hoping that we just had one more point than our opponent at the end of regulation.
Whatever fight you are fighting today, give it your best, keep on punching, and above all, FINISH WELL!
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