Persistance & Jackie Robinson

According to Merriam-Webster, persistence is the act of going on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning. This word has been tumbling around my mind recently. To persist in the face of adversity is no new thing. If we look back to 1947, we see a great example of persistence through the man, Jackie Robinson. Robinson is a "hot topic" with the recent release of his movie "42". Seeing this movie the night it premiered, I was challenged with the idea of persistence. Like Jackie, we all have "giants" in our lives that seek to do anything to us hoping to cripple us from being effective; especially if you are a Christian. The enemy's number 1 goal is to cause you to fall privy to the notion that you don't need your Creator- God. Unlike Jackie, not all of us are doing it on the microscopic stage of a major league field. Yet our responses are just as crucial.

The most memorable thing about Robinson was his unquestionable character and talent as a man and baseball player. And this was even more admirable because of the environment in which he chose to act in this memorable way. He did it as the first black man in what was known as a white man's game. Amazing. Watching this movie, I made a direct comparison between Jackie's persistence and Christ's persistence. Christ was tortured and murdered on a cross, but persisted through because of His desire to love and save each person God the Father created. Similarly, but on a lesser scale, Jackie was ridiculed and abused by whites because of his love to play a game, and to play it well. He had courage to face the battle drawing on Christ's example. He chose to speak through his playing, and turned the other cheek.

Taking in the story of Jackie Robinson, I can't help but contrast my life to his. What areas in my life do I need to draw more on Christ to be courageous and face the battle? What in the battle can I control and what can't I control? How do I persist? These questions circulated during my 30 minute running therapy session this evening. Despite the crisper air, I took my dog for a quick run. On my last half of the run, I was running straight into the wind. Cold, strong wind is my nemesis as a runner. Often times I will unknowingly slow my pace because I'm running into wind. But this time, persistence fresh in my mind, I quickened my stride. My breath got shorter and wheezier, but the fight in me got stronger! I pushed harder, turning over my muscles faster. I knew at some point, the wind would stop or I would reach my intended destination.

When it comes to putting into practice persistence, life is much the same way . We can choose to cower from life's storms, or we can fight our way through. God asks us to "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12). In my life, I quickly can call to mind several situations that would call into question my ability to persist. And with those often exhausting situations, I have been given the gift by God to practice persistence to display through my life like Jackie: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." (2 Corinthians 4:7-10)


This is one of the reasons I so greatly enjoy the sport of baseball. There is a patience and persistence unknown to quick, fast-paced games like basketball. Baseball is different. And tonight, my brother's Arizona team displayed this admirable quality in their playing. They were down 8-2 in the top of the sixth inning. Many sportscasters would say this game is all but over. However, the wildcats stood their ground and fought until the final out was made. They scored 8 runs in the last three innings only taking the lead in the bottom of the 8th. They had less hits than the other team. And yet they persisted to play the game the best they could- and it paid off. It was one of the more enjoyable games I've watched of theirs because of the competition but also it was against their number 1 rival: ASU. An incredible game of the wildcats going on resolutely despite opposition. 

Seeing smaller scale victories in battles are just as crucial to bigger opportunities to persist such as in Jackie Robinson's case. We always have a choice when it comes to how we react to life and the messes or beauty it drops on our front doors. Jackie Robinson made the most out of the deck he was dealt. He loved and served a God who defies the possible with examples of the impossible. I serve the same God. Our nation has been known to claim my God as well. In the wake of the horrible tragedies that occurred in Boston, I hope our people chose this attitude. One of persistence. To face the opposition, the enemy, the importunities and respond with a resolute confidence that this too shall pass, and as it does, beauty will be rising from the ashes.