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Life Lessons From Pacman

I'm not a boxing fan, but when I read that there will be some sort of congressionally backed inquiry into the split decision that gave Timothy Bradley the win over Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, I knew I had to watch the fight (http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/ringside-seat/2012/jun/14/pacquiao-loss-bradley-investigated-harry-reid-gets/).

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that I did not watch all the rounds. From what I did see, however, Pacquiao was the clear winner. Apparently, the majority of the boxing world agrees with me. I have heard murmurs of people refusing to continue to watch the sport. The conspiracy theorists believe that giving Bradley the win has something to do with the rematch clause in the contract for this fight and is simply a tactic to generate funds. Still others have gone so far as to say that this decision is the death of boxing.

The thing that stuck with me about this fight has nothing to do with the match itself. It's what happened after the fight that I find so profound. The crowd loudly booed Timothy Bradley as he was being interviewed about his victory and cheered when Pacquiao's name was referenced. When the announcer interviewed Pacquiao and asked him how he felt about the decision, my eyes began to fill with tears. A humble Pacquiao simply stated that he respected the judges and what they saw and he was satisfied with the decision.

As I listened to him, I just shook my head. He was clearly wronged. His loss was a terrible injustice. Yet, he smiled and congratulated his opponent and accepted the decision. No outrage, no anger, only the slightest hint of disappointment. Even with a crowd that was clearly behind him. Pacquiao just accepted his fate.

It was so Christlike that it awed me. How often do we as Christians fail to act in a Christlike manner because we have been wronged? We act as if the notions of fairness and justice are more important to us than acting like Christ. So we try to justify ungodly behaviour by citing some instance of injustice. Someone acts in a way that is very inconsiderate and we believe that is just cause to retaliate.

But we have not so learned Christ (Eph. 4:20). Christ's example is that when we are reviled, we revile not again (1 Pet 2:23). Christ's example is to render not evil for evil (Rom. 12:17). Christ's example is to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21). Christ's example is inconvenient.

But Christ suffered the ultimate injustice. He, the innocent Lamb of God, went to the cross in our stead and died a cruel death. What injustice can we suffer that equals that?


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