“Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.” (I Timothy 6:12 NLT)
Good morning! On a visit to review the Human Resources Practices at a company’s location in a border town in Mexico, the Vice-President of HR at that location took me on the afternoon of my last day before departing back to Indianapolis. We drove downtown where we walk around to do some shopping. Among other things, I brought two-pair of shoes because the price was right, a briefcase that was the color of a basketball and had a rough texture, and a baseball bat that had yet to be stained. The latter was a gift for a son who played baseball from his toddler years until he graduated from high school. I’m looking at it right now. The briefcase, unique in my eyes, caused people sitting beside me to find an unusual sense of humor. One person’s thoughts stand out, ‘Will you alligator bite me?”
Thinking about it today, it is a wonder that I did not get stop by border control to investigate whether there was anything in the bat such as money or drugs. I’m still looking at the bat. Smile.
On the way back from shopping, the V.P. asked me if I wanted to see the bullring and later watch one of the skilled matadors evade danger, in most cases, twirling his cape in front of a 650- pound bull. I kindly declined the invitation to attend the bullfight, but agreed to go the long way back to my hotel on the United States side of the border so that I could see a bullring. I think, not exactly sure, that the name of the bullring was Plaza de Santa Fe. As I was about to get out of the car, the V.P. says, “I hear you are a pastor.” I nod my head in the affirmative. Before saying good-bye, he says in response, “Well, then you know that believers will face their own Plaza de Santa Fe.” I smiled, and said out of courtesy, “You are right about that, sir.”
Not until yesterday did I really give his words much thought. My initial thought was, “I don’t need to go anyplace where I put my being in danger!” There is such a thing as avoidance, right. Well, here we are some 25-years later and I thought about it deeper. We will all be thrown in a bullring, a Plaza de Santa Fe, on many occasions in life. We must be spiritually ready to keep from being injured by our opponent, be it evil influences or some heavyweight issue that attacks us in life. Oh it will happen this year, more than once, but you defeat your opponent no matter how strong it looks, regardless of how intimidating it may be, ignoring any false propaganda about your adversary, and in spite of any evil intent. Fight the good fight in your Plaza de Santa Fe. Start today, the first workday for some after the holidays, the first back to school day for others, or just another day when the “bull” tries to get you down. Be blessed!
“Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].” (Ephesians 6:13 The Amplified Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King