A Childlike Faith
"...and become like children..."
Matthew 18:3
As martial artists, we all remember our first night in a dojo and the awe that our intructor inspired in us. As a kyu (child) rank I took everything my instructor taught me to heart and performed all he taught me without question, because I had such faith in that black belt around his waist with those red stripes sewn into it. I was convinced that he always had my best interest at heart even when it didn't necessarily feel like it. Even today, I try to maintain that childlike enthusiasm as a student and have that same faith in my instructor.
As an instructor, I am amazed at the faith young or new students to karate will place in me. Regardless of what I have them do, most do it without question. Some things I explain to them and others I just let them do it until they figure it out over time and practice. It is a joy to see the "light" come on when they realize that something they had been practicing or doing really did have a purpose although it was not revealed until later.
The student that questions everything from the beginning and doesn't understand that their respective instructor is guiding them on their journey in their respective art usually has many hard nights in a dojo. Unfortunately, they either end up quitting or their journey to "black belt" becomes more difficult and takes longer than it would have if they had just trusted their instructor. You see, they lack that childlike faith in their instructor. That faith doesn't question, doubt or even wonder, but knows all is being done for their betterment. You see, my children don't wake up in the morning and doubt or wonder if they will be fed or taken care of, they know they will be fed and taken care of. They have faith in me, their father, and of course their mother. The faith of a child that doesn't worry, wonder or doubt, but knows.
It is sad that we all to often have more faith in our respective martial arts instructor than we do in Jesus, who bore our sins on a horrible cross. Our faith MUST become childlike and as the scripture tells us, we must "become like children." If we want to fulfill the calling God has on each and every one of us, we must have the faith of a child and "become like children" knowing that our Heavenly Father, Who loves us more than we can comprehend, has only the best for us even when we don't understand or it doesn't seem so at the time. The FACT that he bore that horrible cross for us should be enough of a reminder.
Although we feel like times in the world or times in our lives are uncertain, know that with God there is only CERTAINTY.
God bless you all!
Shihan Jody Pittman