Lessons of UFC

By: Payton M. Ishmael

With a sour attitude and dreadful mood, I ended up watching some silly fight with a group of friends recently. Some burly men clad in UFC sponsored spandex squirm around trying to kill each other. Going into this situation, I admit I thought the whole UFC trend was a complete joke. After watching, however, I came away from the experience with valuable lessons learned.

Preparation. Expectation. Commitment.

If you’ve ever competed in any type of organized game or sport, you know that success requires adequate preparation. Depending on what’s at stake, athletes prepare months, years, or even lifetimes to reach the ultimate goal of victory.

Expectation is also crucial to winning. You must know what you’re facing, be familiar with your surroundings, and know the rules of the game. The element of expectation can be a tricky one. Although it’s important to approach competition well informed, you must also be prepared for unexpected events to occur. A good person once told me not to worry so much about planning every intricate detail of my life, and instead let life happen.

We can’t forget one of the most important ingredients of success; commitment. A decision has to be made to persevere through all obstacles and challenges and there can be no room left for backing out. Prior to beginning a race, it’s not a question of IF you’ll finish, but when. Commitment means sticking with it, staying in, and not letting go.

Our eternal plans are much the same as preparation for the UFC match; not always easy but well rewarded. We have to prepare; seek salvation, love one another, and love God. We have to expect what’s in store; Heaven vs. Hell. We’re going to conclude our lives in one destination or the other, which do you expect? And, we have to commit to the course; Live out loud leaving out any option to give up.

He never said it would be easy, but He did promise we’d never go alone!

When I Get Tired of Shopping, I Sit Down and Try on Shoes

By: Payton M. Ishmael

It’s no secret that I have a very unhealthy obsession with footwear. I’m no discriminator of style either. Wedges, stilletos, flats, and sandals are made to feel right at home in their very own designated space within my closet. I like to wear boots to the rodeo, heels to dinner, and my worn out tennis shoes to run. They all have a place, a purpose, and have seen different terrains and environments.
Unfortunately, although the distinct personality of each pair is gladly accepted, I’ve noticed lately that all the people in my path are not so warmly greeted. The habits of some of the people I see daily flabbergast me and I wonder what makes them tick or if they’re ticking at all. I get bent all out of shape that a child’s parent can’t find the time to sign and send back a report card, but is quick to write a letter complaining about a daily grade. The patients at the doctor’s office won’t make their children behave, I would be spanking behinds. And why oh why must my students neglect their responsibilities!

And so this week as I complained about these people, my mind kept jumping to their shoes. Even for a very shoe-minded person, I was starting to convince myself I had gone crazy. I don’t mean crazy as in silly, I’m referring to the diagnosis of crazy by a medical doctor. I mean, I don’t know anything about the soles of the people I complain so quickly about…

Then I realized maybe I wasn’t so loony after all. Maybe their soles were brought to my attention so that I would consider their souls. You see, I don’t know where their feet have trod, nor what their hearts have endured. I don’t know what mountains they’ve climbed, not anything about the burdens they must carry. And so, as I continue each step in preferably red patent leather pumps, I will be slow to judge and patient to assume when approaching those in my path. In fact, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to walk a mile in their shoes.

Accessorizing Eternity

Accessorizing an ensemble is like putting the icing on a cake. Imagine putting up your Christmas tree, but not adding any lights or ornaments. Picture a car absent of any of bells or whistles. Ponder a wedding without a single flower to be found. All of these scenarios are quite feasible and probably even happen from time to time for whatever reason. It’s when they are fancily clad, though, that beauty is illuminated.

As you know, in all of the instances above, prior planning is involved. When picking out trimmings for the tree, you may select a theme or simply just a color scheme. When planning the floral arrangements for an event, it’s likely that you select coordinating types and shades. The list goes on. Coming up with a plan and then executing is most often going to yield the most favorable results. Let’s face it. We shouldn’t allow materialistic vanities to become a hindrance in our life, but who doesn’t like to look nice? As far as I’m concerned, the more ruffles something has, the better. Judging by those around me, I’d say “bring on the bling” is an accurate assumption to the tastes of many. With this in mind, allow me to provide some Heavenly fashion advice.Begin storing up treasures of eternal value, Matthew 6:20. There’s not a single piece of Mikimoto or David Yurman that will ascend with us to the pearly gates. Instead, we must begin working now for what we will be able to enjoy later. There are lovely crowns awaiting our arrival. Our life on Earth will determine the embellishments or lack thereof. On the runway of gold, what will your crown display?