That’s When Nothing Can Stop You

Sometime back I was listening to an interview with the former heavyweight boxing world champion George Forman. At one point in the interview, he spoke about his early success in boxing in boxing. He said something along the lines of: I made a lot of money, and money is a good thing. It is okay. But if you do that, just remember that every morning you have to wake up with something that no one else in the world gets up with, and that is that image in the mirror – that face you see. You have got to love it! You have got to do some things that you feel good about.

He went on to say: The first time in my boxing career) I made millions, I had a swimming pool and a (nice car) and all kinds of things that speak of success. But, I hadn’t done anything to treat humanity the way humanity had treated me.

So Foreman decided to build a youth center in Houston, Texas, to help impoverished youth from the inner city where he grew up. And he almost went broke doing it. In fact, he had to go back into boxing to fund it. But the second time around he had a reason, and he found himself gifted with endurance and stamina. He said, when you are fighting for something beyond yourself and money – that’s when nothing can stop you.

When you find yourself fighting for something beyond yourself – that’s when nothing can stop you.

In his letter to the Philippians (2:6-8), Paul writes:

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself…”

This teaching is often referred to as “kenosis” from the root word “kenos” – meaning to empty.

Our faith teaches us that Jesus shows us the very heart of God. In other words, this self-emptying – is not just the essence of Jesus, it is the very essence of God. We worship a God who gives it all away. We worship a God who is love… We worship a God who walks side by side with those who suffer…those in need.

Being created in the image of such a God, it’s no wonder we find great meaning and joy and hope in our giving… On this Giving Tuesday, may we tap into this great well!

Let us pray: Giving God, As we have received, so may we give. And in our giving, may we know your joy; through Christ our Lord. Amen.