Ok, I’m getting back to real life again. Last week my entire family was sick, my wife and I are still fighting some junk off, we traveled out of town for a wedding, and today I’m back and trying to wrap my head around everything I have to do.

While I was out of town I was fortunate enough to stumble across the Karate Kid on TV. I was also fortunate enough to not have anyone tell me that it is a stupid movie and to change the channel. So, what did I do? Oh yeah, I watched the Karate Kid, and loved it! And, “surprisingly” I was reminded of a few things:

• Karate Kid Lesson 1: sometimes menial tasks prepare us for far more important things.
  The Karate Kid had to sand the deck, paint the fence, wash the car and do other menial things. He thought that he wasn’t learning anything, but later realized that the physical motion of doing those things was the same motion to block a punch, kick, and so on. I think life is a lot like this.

  Sometimes God has us in places that seem totally pointless. But, there is a point, a lesson, a task, and a calling in even the little things. Sometimes we just need to look under the surface.

• Karate Kid Lesson 2: learn balance first and the rest follows.
  The Karate Kid had to learn to balance and defend before he was taught to punch and kick.

  Balance first, in life and in Karate. Too often I go running after something without first being balanced in my thinking and in my spirit. I am continually learning that I must balance the things in my life so that I’m not controlled by things, but so that I can be led by the Spirit.

• Karate Kid Lesson 3: the enemy always plays dirty and to win.
  The bad dudes in the movie were dirty, no playing by the rules for them, only playing to win by any means possible.

  Our enemy fights just as dirty, and worse. We have to constantly be on the look out for his sucker punch.