A common idiom saying, “I’m quitting” is “Throwing in the towel” . . .
I’m no longer going to fight in this arena, so I’m throwing my towel
into the ring to signal, “I’m out of here” . . . but there is more to it than
that. More than is commonly understood in the idiom’s generalised use. In fact,
there is a simple problem, but first background to the idiom.
Definition background: “to throw
in the towel and throw in the sponge; or toss in the sponge” comes from boxing, this action taken by the boxer's trainer to stop the fight. The trainer signals their
fighter is withdrawing from the fight contest.
A simple problem of understanding – the trainer has the towel, not the fighter!
You cannot toss in what you do not
have, but you can remember to trust the trainer . . . now, that gets me into
ruminating on some words from the apostle Paul; words to Christians in the past
who also “struggled with life in the ring” . . . reminding them God is with them as their “trainer”
. . .
“The temptations in your life are
no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not
allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he
will show you a way out so that you can endure.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)
In feeling the challenge, pressure and
trusting the trainer – don’t “bite the bullet” chew on the text . . .
- Knowing that the temptations and pressures in my life are no different from what others experience doesn’t mean it’s easy, just its normative
- The trainer is faithful
- The trainer will not allow the temptations and pressures to be more than one can stand, he is committed to one’s success, not their mere survival
- “Stand” is not a synonym for survive – it’s a synonym for endure
- When you are struggling at energy’s end tempted, the trainer will show you a way out so that you can endure
Remember the trainer does not have your
“dying in the ring in mind” – he does have . . .
- A towel on his shoulder
- A plan in his heart for your future
- The capacity to enable our fights, fears, failures to serve as fuel to form our future
- Ways of escape, operative for our endurance; not one’s mere survival
Don’t
look for the towel, trust the trainer
