Wax on, wax off

In the movie classic The Karate Kid, the Japanese sensei or teacher, Mr. Miyagi begins instructing young Danny Larusso in the martial art of karate. The elder opens the lesson by saying, “Wash all the cars. Then wax them." When you wax them, he says, while illustrating, “Wax on, right hand, wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, breathe out the mouth. Don’t forget to breathe.” Miyagi demonstrates wax on by moving his right hand in a clockwise motion, then wax off with his left hand going counterclockwise.

This first lesson’s value becomes instantly apparent the first time Miyagi feigns an attack with his hands. Danny deflects one blow then another with the same motion he’s been “practicing” for hours on end.

Just as Miyagi was a source of wisdom for the teen in this fictional story, God our Father is the Source of wisdom who can help us in teaching, demonstrating and finally showing the value of what we’ve learned once we’ve faithfully practiced what we’ve learned.

Considering God’s equivalent of first moving the right hand clockwise, we would do well to think of it as God-wise. We move first in the direction of God, following Him in everything. We put God first and everything else second because, as we learn in Matthew’s Gospel, “Seek first the kingdom of God (and His righteousness) and all these things will be given to you besides.” (Matthew 6:33)

In this way we are moving in the same direction as God and following Him rather than resisting Him. It has taken me many years to realize that resisting is futile when this Almighty God Who loves me beyond my understanding pursues me relentlessly. While I like to think of myself as persistent (my wife prefers the term stubborn) I can’t hold a candle to the One Who wants my heart to be His own and won’t give up until He gets it.

As God instructs us to move the left hand counterclockwise, we might think of it as counter cultural wise. Once we’re moving in the direction that God would have us go, it’s good to follow that up with our own reminder that following and obeying God runs completely counter to the cultural setting of the day. With eyes wide open, one can easily see that the society in which we live isn’t God-centered at all. Sure, we have the window dressing of “In God We Trust” printed on our currency and “one nation under God” as pronounced each time we recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Go much deeper than that and the practice of your faith in all its forms prompts more questions than it does affirmations.

Following God is truly counter-cultural. Examples abound, including giving the first fruits of our labors to God, His Church and those around us in need. He is, after all, the true Source of those funds. Society would have us spend, spend, spend, to look, feel and smell better. God would have us be quiet in His Presence as the first item of the day, while our culture wants us to get up and go, go, go. When God is the single most important part of your life, you willingly give Him that time just as you would to someone with whom you’re deeply in love.

By society’s standards, God doesn’t pass the cool test. Nor does He stand a chance of getting headlines or the lead story ahead of the latest shooting, the latest controversy in which someone has been wronged or the most recent technological advancement which everyone who is anyone simply must have in his or her pocket or home. He’s a distant fourth with these and falls further down the list with every item you can think to add.

Keep this in mind, especially when you find yourself needing to address opportunities to lean into God as well as opportunities to move away from culturally accepted practices. When it comes time to defend yourself, simply remember, “Wax on, wax off.” And don’t forget to breathe.