Originally posted on Facebook on Saturday, May 8, 2021.

In Week 19 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Dr. Chris Dewey.

It was the late 90s. I was a college student at Mississippi State and would occasionally pass a large glass storefront on Main Street that allowed a full view of the martial arts classes happening inside. On this particular day, the activity captivated my attention and I stopped in front of the studio to watch. Seeing me, Dr. Dewey motioned for me to come inside which began my journey of learning Ju Jutsu under his instruction.

It was a wonderful experience. He and his wife were so warm, welcoming and eager to share everything they had. I met a lot of amazing people there, among whom was Lynn Phillips-Gaines who became a business mentor and lifelong friend. I learned much more from that class than I could have ever anticipated. A lot of the lessons didn't unfold for me until much later, sometimes decades later, when specific life events gave occasion for their application. But, some lessons were drilled home right away -namely: honor and respect your opponent, the battle and the space where it is taking place. Disregard for any of these is an almost certain prescription for defeat.

A number of other lessons have proven useful throughout life such as; giving yourself more time (to make better decisions) by creating separation, reduce how much you're exerting yourself by understanding leverage and, my favorite, if I control your center (of gravity), I control you. The latter is something I find particularly instructive as a Christian when considering spiritual warfare.

In the book of James, that author warns that we are under assault. In James 1:14-15 he writes, "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." Put another way, Jesus says in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Here, "heart" refers to your center -your desires, hopes; that on which your life centers. And, if I control your center, I control you.

I apply this by asking myself where is my treasure? What do I want most? What is my greatest hope? Do I want power and wealth? Do I want to be important? Do I desire to sit in places of honor among people? Pursuit of such things puts me on shaky ground. If the desire that is central to my being is based in things that change, as these things move, I am constantly moved. But, James goes on from the earlier verse to give us the key to defeating such an attack in James 1:16, "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

In other words, if I delight myself in the Lord and want Him above all else, my footing is sure. I can have peace in knowing that with Him as my center, I cannot be moved. Victory is then assured and I can live out Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

I cannot thank Dr. Dewey enough for the instruction he gave on the mat that has aided me throughout life. I am grateful. #52WoG

Photo courtesy of Martial Arts Professional ( martialartsprofessional.com).