In the movie " Evan Almighty ", Morgan Freeman playing God talked to Evan's wife, Lauren Graham about how prayers are answered. He said God doesn't really answer our prayers but He gives us opportunities to achieve what we want to achieve. If we want courage, He doesn't give it instantly. He provides us with opportunities to prove our courage by putting us in a situation that we could test our self. The same with happiness, there is no such thing as instant happiness. It requires time and effort, sometimes some pain and suffering, and the understanding that we need to give a part of our self to achieve it.
I remember watching live on television George Foreman's fight against Michael Moorer. It was for the heavyweight championship of the world and Foreman was hoping to be the oldest boxer to win a championship. Fresh from an upset victory over the then reigning champion Evander Holyfield, Moorer was looking for a big payday against the 45 year old Foreman. George was considered by many as way past his prime and was given a slim chance of dethroning the current champion. For 9 rounds Moorer was beating Foreman to the punch until the latter land a two punch combination that hit Moorer on the jaw knocking him out for the count. I will never forget Foreman's reaction for instead of jumping in triumph he looked up and knelt on a corner and uttered a private prayer. It was an answer to his prayer, an opportunity to show that the past is past and that he is no longer the Foreman of the old.
Losing to Muhammad Ali via knockout while still in his prime was a bitter pill to swallow for the young George Foreman. It took him ten years to accept that it was a right hand that did him in and not the lack of stamina that caused him his defeat. He became a pastor afterward trying to put sense into his well being and erase the bitterness of the humiliating defeat to Ali and shied away from the prying eyes of boxing critics. Ten years later at the age of 38 he returned to the ring not only for glory but also to raise fund for the youth center he founded. He knew that at that age when most boxers retire he has to train doubly hard than other fighters to be able to shine in his comeback. He also knew that he has to get his fire back inside the ring for him to survive the brutal battles he will be up against. Some thought that not sitting between rounds was a ploy to get media mileage but at that age he knew better that the harder part of the fight is getting his stiff old knees to get up from the stool to start the round. Its the only time in the sport that boxing analysts voted the older version of Foreman as a better fighter than the younger one.
Prayers work better when you have learned that every morning you wake up is something to thank the Lord for. Life is a gift itself, every breath you take, every heartbeat, every step you take is a miracle. And every moment is an opportunity to undo the wrongs. George Foreman was a good example - it may have taken him ten years to take stock of his past life but he prayed and prayed deeply to undo the wrongs. He learned his lesson and was given another opportunity to get back everything he lost and build a better life right after.
Some movies you can enjoy watching and learn something from :
1. Bruce Almighty ( Jim Carrey )
2. Evan Almighty ( Steve Carrel )
3. The Upside of Anger ( Kevin Costner)
4. Tin Cup ( Kevin Costner & Renee Russo)
5. Lethal Weapon ( Mel Gibson & Danny Glover)
6. The Devil at 4 o'clock ( Frank Sinatra )
7. Tears of the Sun ( Bruce Willis )
8. Cliffhanger ( Sylvester Stallone )
9. Blood Diamond ( Leonardo Di Caprio )
10. The Mission ( Robert De Niro )
These movies highlighted undoing the wrongs in one's life. God will always give us a second chance if we will only ask for it, a prayer maybe, or just looking inside our hearts.
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