The Journey 219: Mary Kom: Boxing the Goliaths of life

Read: 1 Samuel 17

As the Olympics is going on full steam, the spotlight this week was on Usain Bolt for winning the 100 meters dash and Michel Phelps for creating world record by becoming the athlete who won the maximum number of medals in Olympic history. The spotlights are focused on such star athletes who have number of sponsors and are consciously kept in the limelight. But behind the scenes of these stars is the story and achievement of young punitive Indian lady who is also now creating history and is becoming the toast of the nation. Her name is Mary Kom and she is in an unlikely sports for woman– boxing. Mary Kom has reached the semifinal and has thus been assured of a medal. But what makes this diminutive pugilist a star in her own right?. Mary grew up in a small village in Manipur, a north eastern state in India, where she had to face issues resulting out of insurgency and economic blockades. This resulted in people toiling hard to make ends meet. Even as a child her parents described her as a no– nonsense girl who would not tolerate anyone especially the boys who would tease her. Mary would thrash these boys and that is how she grew up. She first started her sports career in athletics but soon switched to boxing which she felt was her calling. But being a woman, and that too from the north east state, she hid her passion and her participation from tournament from the eyes of the villagers and her parents. But one day her photo of winning the boxing title with a trophy appeared in a local daily and her secret was public. Her mother was upset that her daughter dabbled in boxing, but seeing her passion she supported her. Yesterday as Mary fought in ring, her mother was besides the ring to support her. But as she prepares for her semi final bout, Mary is optimistic and has a strong faith in her Lord and she quips by saying that every time she enters the boxing ring she remembers the fight between David and Goliath. The new agencies have reported Mary Kom saying that “ I pray hard the second I enter the ring and I find asking God for a fair bout”. I believe the tenacity, the persistence and the faith the Mary carries is really worth emulating. Mary is also a social activist fighting for the rights of woman in her village. What a remarkable individual. A boxer, who is woman, a mother of two, raising up a family, raising up funds for social upliftment, fighting all odds not only to win medals but also to live life in honour. As we mediate on the theme “ Transformed Living” the model of faith that Mary has shown is something that we also need to inculcate in our life. The passage that we shall use for our meditation is the story of David and Goliath, story that Mary remembers as she fights in the boxing ring. The portion is from 1 Samuel 17. What is wonderful is the way David perceived his battle with Goliath. He is dressed up in war clothes by Saul, which he removes and tells the king that he is not used to such heavy armour. What was the armour that he is going to take– stones and sling. If he would have told this to the king, he would have become a laughing stock. Yes he becomes the laughing stock when he comes face to face with Goliath, who is outraged that Israelites had sent this boy to fight a giant. He roars and tell David “ Am I a dog that you come to fight with me with sticks”. But David gives him the apt reply “ You come with swords and spear while I come in the name of the Lord almighty”. I think it is this perspective of David that made the whole difference in his life and in his fight with Goliath. One of the negative aspects of most of us is that when we face crisis, crisis often overpowers us. The reason for this is that our focus and attention is on the problems, the crisis and the challenges of life. But both David and Mary teaches us that we need to look to the Lord, and that is where our strength and hope in life will come [ Psalms 121]. Where are your eyes set– On the Lord or on your problems.
Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla

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