Rising to Fight Again

From the Tour de France to the World Equestrian Games, feats of perseverance amaze us. These stories of physical endurance can inspire us in our spiritual quest.

Cadel Evans, twice runner-up in the Tour de France, this year at age 34 became the oldest winner since World War II. The grueling cycling race of 3,430.5 kilometers (2,131.7 miles) provides countless opportunities for endurance—and defeat.

As the race ended July 24, my thoughts turned to an expression James Michener used in his memoirs after times of disappointment: “I will lay me down and bleed awhile, then rise and fight again.” This quote, found in various ballads and poems from the British Isles, reflects a resilience and endurance I see in many people I admire.

Cadel Evans’ story of endurance

The winner of the 2011 Tour de France, Australian Cadel Evans, has indeed risen many times to fight again. As a baby, he was born three weeks overdue with a broken nose. As an 8-year-old, he was kicked in the head by a horse, fracturing his skull and putting him in a coma. He had to undergo surgery to remove bone fragments from his brain. Doctors did not expect him to walk again after that accident, but indeed he did rise to fight again.

Twice he had come second in the Tour. During the 2011 Tour de France he also bravely fought alone, as his teammates just could not keep up with him on the grueling climbs in the Alps. His perseverance inspires his countrymen and millions of others around the world.

Stinna’s story

My thoughts also turn to another group of people with whom I have the privilege of working. They are equestrian riders who, through no fault of their own, face severe disabilities. They, too, have bled awhile and then risen to fight again.

Some have been in horrific accidents that have left them missing a limb or limbs. Others, like Stinna from Denmark, have been born with no legs. I met her at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, last October.

Stinna won two bronze medals for her country. In her first competition at the games, her pony slipped, coming down onto its front knees. Stinna bravely stayed in the saddle without the support of her legs. She is not tied into her saddle at all, but rides by keeping herself well balanced. When her pony slipped, the spectators gasped quietly in horror, but Stinna seemed only concerned that her pony had not hurt himself!

She is a remarkable teenager. She told me that she is going on to study to be a psychologist or a lawyer after high school.

She told me, “Life isn’t over because you have lost a leg or an arm or if life has handed you some difficult circumstances. You can continue being you, the unique person that you are, and most importantly to be happy in spite of what you face.”

I asked her what she would say to someone going through a really tough time in his or her life.

“Don’t ever give up. Keep trying and in the long term it will work out. You may feel you are stuck, but think of it as only a bump in the road. Every cloud has a silver lining if we can just persevere.”

Stinna and other equestrians with disabilities have been a major inspiration to me.

Swimming upstream spiritually

Then my thoughts turn to a third group, those the Bible calls firstfruits. They bleed and die daily, but rise to fight again. The apostle Paul, a member of this group, said, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).

The saints—the followers of Jesus Christ—do suffer daily and year after year. And it often seems quite unnoticed. They don’t stand on podiums or receive accolades, flowers or trophies. But they are promised the incredible gift of eternal life if they continue living righteously (verses 51-54).

This group swims upstream each day. They are special in that they are going against all odds in this present time to reach for the Kingdom of God. This special group has its chance now to rise and fight again.

As Proverbs 24:16 says, “A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.” The Christian challenge remains to rise again spiritually—every time!

Read more about the wonderful promise of the Kingdom of God in The Mystery of the Kingdom.

Lynn Marshall is an equestrian coach for Equine Canada. She and her husband, Graemme, serve the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in the Toronto, Ontario, area.