Hi Folks:
My apologies to the ladies out there for the wrestling reference in the On Fire below. Jan didn't get it (she grew up in a house full of women), but I'm thinking that there are a bunch of you guys out there who remember Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling. Jan doesn't believe me, so I need you to email me. Thanks for the help on this one.
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2 Sam 3:1 "The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time."*
A weekly ritual for many in Maritime Canada when I was growing up in the 70's and 80's was to watch Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling on TV. This was before the WWF, WCW, or WWE. We cheered for Leo Burke and Rip Rogers. Before the world knew him as the Genius, we called him Leapin’ Lanny Poffo. Lanny’s real-life brother is Macho Man Randy Savage. They were famous here first!
The AGPW promoters knew that all good entertainment (we still argued whether it was real or not!) needs villains, and so we jeered Killer Karl Krupp, Sweet Daddy Sikki, the Spoiler, and the Carpet Bagger. Good vs. evil played out in our living rooms every Saturday night.
The most entertaining bouts were the grudge matches. Personal history and past injuries ensured a good fight. If one week the Cuban Assassin slammed Big Steven Pettipas with a folding chair, then next week we knew there would be payback.
A grudge match on TV makes lively entertainment, but when we experience it in real life its much different. Real life battles are messy and enduring. Past hurts and pains keep them going, and they can go a long time, especially in families.
As a pastor, I often see the results of grudge matches at gatherings like weddings and funerals. I have seen funeral visitations where family members literally sat on one side of the room or the other. More than once I have had to negotiate between the factions to arrive at an agreement over arrangements.
Grudge matches split families, poison churches, derail businesses, and politicize meetings. I used to wonder why it was so hard to get people to pull together. Almost always, I discover some sort of grudge match at the heart of the matter. As a result, no one trusts anyone else. "What did they mean by that?" The assumption is that every little word or act is a carefully chosen arrow, dipped in poison and fired with a vengeance.
Its much easier to start a grudge match than it is to end one. That’s why we read, "The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time." Grudge matches last because people keep them going. In David’s case, Saul’s children took up the battle - Saul died at the end of 1 Samuel. I’m reminded of a local saying: "Cut one and they all bleed."
What about us? Are we like David, who tried many times to end the difficulties and chose not to retaliate? Or are we like Saul’s son Ishbosheth, who kept fuelling the feud? We’d all like to think of ourselves as David, but is this always so? Its easy to close our hearts. Few want to give up a hurt. Its easy to hear offense.
A couple of years ago promoters admitted that pro wrestling WWE-style is not real. Wrestling is entertainment. The grudge matches are staged. If only that were so in real life.
"Lord, help us to give up our grudges. May we not be guilty of fuelling them. Soften our hearts. Open our minds. Help us to forgive."
I hope this helps. Be On Fire.
ON FIRE is a weekly letter of encouragement by
*Unless translated directly, all scripture references from the New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978 by the International Bible Society.