Dangerous for Good, Part 1: Orientationনমুনা

More than Meets the Eye

In the 1984 film, The Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio plays Daniel, a New Jersey boy who is transplanted to Southern California. Early in the film, he learns the hard way that he doesn’t fit in. When the local bullies attack him, his rescue comes in the unlikely form of his apartment’s maintenance man, Mr. Miyagi. The day comes when Daniel needs Miyagi’s karate training but instead of “karate” Miyagi puts Daniel to work on a list of chores like waxing cars, sanding the porch floors, painting a fence, and eventually painting the whole house. If you’ve seen the movie, you cannot forget “wax on, wax off.” Frustrated with what seems to him to be a huge waste of time, Daniel follows the old man’s instructions, supposing the chores are payment for his training. In a pivotal scene, Daniel’s frustration with Miyagi finally explodes:

Daniel (to Mr. Miyagi): You’re supposed to teach, and I’m supposed to learn. Four days I’ve been busting my #@*%, I haven’t learned a thing.

Miyagi: You learn plenty.

Daniel: (sarcastically) I’ve learned to sand your decks. I’ve waxed your car, I paint your house, paint your fence.

Miyagi: Not everything is as seems.

Daniel: Oh, bull#@*%*, man. I’m going home. (Daniel then throws up his hands, turns and begins to walk away.)

Miyagi: Daniel-san…Daniel-san!

Daniel: (Daniel stops walking) What?

Miyagi: Come here. (Daniel returns. They are face to face.) Show me sand the floor.

Daniel: Sand the floor? (Daniel starts to go to his knees to sand floor)

Miyagi: Stand up. Show me sand the floor.

Daniel: Sand the floor? (Daniel sands the floor while bending down as if to sand the floor again with hands in circular motions and with a puzzled look on his face)

Miyagi: Get up. (Daniel stands up and shrugs in frustration and confusion.)

Miyagi: Sand the floor. Big circle. Sand the floor. Sand the floor. (Daniel does the floor sanding motions in the air.)

Miyagi: Now show me wax on, wax off.

Daniel: Wax on, wax off?

Miyagi: Wax on, wax off!

Daniel: Wax on...

Miyagi: ...wax off. Concentrate. Look in my eyes. Lock your hand, thumb inside. Wax on...wax off. Wax on...wax off. Show me paint the fence. Up, down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Other side. Look eye. Always look eye! (Daniel copies what Miyagi is showing him, still puzzled.)

Miyagi: Show me paint the house. Side, side. Lock wrist. Side, side. Side, side. (Miyagi then throws a series of slow punches and kicks.)

Miyagi stands face-to-face with Daniel and throws a barrage of punches and kicks. Daniel blocks them all with his newfound “chore” techniques. Miyagi bows to Daniel. A bewildered and wide-eyed Daniel bows back and stands there dazed, but slowly beginning to comprehend the true heart of his teacher.

Miyagi: (looking Daniel in the eye) Come back tomorrow.

This is one of my favorite scenes in all the stories and films that move my heart. Why? Because it’s my story, and I believe it just might be all our stories. I have misunderstood so much of what is truly taking place in my life. All too often, just like Daniel, I have failed to see the reality of my life, the bigger picture, the more-than-meets-the-eye that is going on inside me and all around me. In order to become dangerous for good, we must be teachable, patient, and entrust our hearts to the one doing the teaching. Becoming oriented requires seeing more of the larger story going on around my story.

Just think if we could gain a true orientation and a real awareness of how God is working around us, in us, and with us every day. In doing so, it would transform our lost wanderings into a purposeful journey toward abundant life.

“Come back tomorrow.”

As you ponder all this with God today, consider asking Him:

Father, looking back on my life, how have I misunderstood your training of me; what things have I misinterpreted and therefore I missed what you were inviting me to see?

Jesus, some things that have happened to me in my life haven't been good, and yet you promise to work all things out for the good (Romans 8:28). So where in my story do you want to bring healing and training from the wounding or hard parts of my journey?

Spirit, I want to be more and more oriented to the good you are up to in my life and see you moving and working in my life, to join you rather than resist you. Where are you currently moving to make me more and more like Jesus?