Testimony #3

Hollywood Hard man Sylvester Stallone most iconic role as an actor was playing Rocky Balboa in eight movies.
Rocky is depicted as an 'everyman' who started out by going the distance and overcoming obstacles that had occurred in his life and career as a profession boxer.

Listen to how God reconnects with Sylvester, through Sylvester's acting and playing the character Rocky.

• What was something about Sylvester's story that stood out to you?
  
• What was something about the character Rocky that encouraged or challenged you?

I think we all have those moments in life, like Sylvester said of himself, that we like to take the reigns of life for our self. And what I mean by that is that we say, 'I've got this, I can do it myself.' I am not speaking about learning and growing up and using that phrase as we would to parents when we can tie our shoe laces ourselves or can set up the TV to movie mode, "Dad, I can do it myself." I think Sylvester means the deeper sense where we actually dismiss people out of our life, believe that we know best and DO NOT WANT HELP, I DON'T NEED YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR ME...

Do you know what I mean!

Sylvester had years of this, 12, (didn't he say?). Where he was a famous actor, director, writer, living in Hollywood where he thought he had made it, all by himself. But all the way through the Rocky movies God was there tapping him, nudging him that He was still there, present. Sylvester's words (and I am paraphrasing) were, I had to stop kidding myself and realize that God was with me all these years and I had to humble myself, like Rocky did in the movies and Thank God, that He is God.

Another insightful point was brought through the character of Rocky. There is a time where we have heard a bit or a lot of the Jesus story where we need to just do it! We need to act out love, the actual heart of the Gospel message. Let me be clear, so often we think that we need to spend years reading and learning and spending more time with God (which is all good), but to the detriment of loving what he loves. Your neighbour, your enemy, the lost, widowed, orphan, downcast, sad, hurting, being happy with those who are happy, bringing people together.

I think in this time, right now both elements are so, so key. God is so present and we need to act it out to others. And the great thing is, and it's played out in all Rocky movies is that God uses US and OUR talents! Even if that is boxing, art, craft, music, sport, academics, food, kind words or a hug.

PeaceInHim,

Luke