Getting 'Tapped' and Choked out to Humility!

What a title!   How does a seminarian come up with such a title?  Well, my main enemy is ego and pride.  Deadly sins, mortal sins.  Jiu Jitsu helps get that issue under control.  The ultimate release, Training!  Getting on the mats and leaving it all there, the sweat, sometimes blood and the demolition of the ego.  Ahh the ego,..my ultimate enemy!

Where have you been(?) has been the ultimate question, the last few months, as my blogging is becoming more rare than a Big Foot sighting.  The truth is that, I sometimes, (nearly always,..) just don’t have the time to blog the way I used to.  Another confession?  I now blog for Jesus, and not for me.  In the past, I blogged in the name of Jesus, but trying to build a name for myself.  The past few months, well I have been changing, I believe for the better.   Jesus wants holy priests, not internet/marketing celebrities! 

To be a priest is to completely die to oneself.  That being said, the ego remains the majour obstacle for any progression in holiness.  The enemy, the devil, clearly knows this and is ready to exploit this.  My strengths?  The whole ‘in your face thing?’  Well, it is also my biggest weakness!   I need to learn, to re learn, to practice and to accept ‘humility!’  Easier said than done!   The question remains, where does BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) fit into all of this?  Well,… The answer is simple.  Pastores Dabo Vobis shows four key elements to a healthy balanced seminarian who will (God willing) turn into a healthy balanced priest!  My ‘human dimension’ is In BJJ, you spar full blast, you realize that can never lose but only learn, however when you see yourself falling into the same routine and your side control defense needs work, or your defense from the mount position is mediocre, then you are encouraged to train from those positions!  

That means you will be tapped and choked, (maybe even from the white belts!) BUTTTTT,.you will also learn!

Humlity?  Loads of it!  Think of St Dismas (The good thief on the Cross!) 

St Dismas,................................................Ora pro nobis!