GOD WILL TALK IF YOU LISTEN

by Peter Vuono

(Please excuse me getting away from my usual articles about strength and valor but today's blog is about a superior kind of strength)

     My wife and I listen often to Dr. Charles Stanley, an evangelist out of Atlanta. He once said that God will speak to us if we merely be still and listen. Today, through a defenseless little animal, he spoke.
    Since 1959, when I first saw Steve Reeves, I wanted to be strong. When an article written by a pro wrestler convinced me that weights were the answer, that is all I did. My first powerlifting meet was in 1973 and my next will be very soon. I was injured MANY times with everything from a ruptured bicep tendon to a broken back and heart attack and yet, I refused to stop. Yet I can tell you that I was never once satiated. No matter what trophy I won, how many boards I broke, a Black Belt or ripped in half phone books, I was always left empty.
   Today, after the mandatory yard work and work out, I sat silently with my son's girlfriend Joelle's little puppy sitting in my lap sleeping. I prayed over him and blessed him. I asked Saint Francis, the patron saint of animals to protect him and God spoke.
   I realized that this little puppy was innocent, weak, meek, loving and didn't have a mean bone in his tiny body. I thought of the sermon on the mount that Jesus made and how he wanted ALL of us to strive for these virtues even if we fail to obtain them. I then realized that the outer strength that I've worked for , for 45 years was not nearly as important as the inner strength I really needed that ONLY comes from God and his divine teachings. All of this sent to me from God through one of his blessed, defenseless creatures.
   Sure, I'll continue to train but the thrust of my perspective has gone in another direction. The meek shall inherit the earth and perhaps in my case, it will be the inner strength that I always needed and sought after in the wrong direction.A strength I've yet to attain.
    If we all took the example of the least of God's creatures just think  how different the world will be. HE's talking to you. Don't wait to listen as I did.

"He who conquers others is strong, he who conquers himself is mighty"- Shaolin saying