Today, we celebrate the greatest comeback in the history of the world: Jesus Christ overcoming the cross and grave in a resurrection that has inspired us for millennia as we know he will return again and grant us all everlasting life.
When you hear the word "comeback," what images does it conjure up for you?
For many years, as a kid of the 80's and 90's, it was often associated with the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan, who left and returned not once, but twice, to win 3 more championships with the Chicago Bulls and then to play 2 more seasons into his 40's with the Washington Wizards. I'm currently reading When Nothing Else Matters by Michael Leahy which thoroughly chronicles the final comeback - which is fascinating because MJ returns to play for love of the game, past his prime and unable to do what he once did but pushing himself to the limit despite the toll it takes on his knees, body and, for some, his reputation.
Many athletes have made comebacks over the years. One of my favorites is former St. Louis Cardinals pitching ace Rick Ankiel, who infamously lost his ability to throw strikes in the playoffs after an incredible rookie campaign only to toil for years to try to get it back. Rather than give up when he failed to recapture his original magic, he went back to the minors as an outfielder only to return years later and (with me in the audience!) hit a home run in his return game and have multiple successful years as a hitter and fielder with a cannon as an arm. If you haven't read it, read his autobiography, The Phenomenon.
Comebacks aren't always pretty. They certainly don't come easy. For someone to have a comeback, it obviously implies that there has been a significant fall.
What comebacks have you had in your life, or are you looking to have? Wherever you are, no matter how down and out you feel, there is a way back.
I inexplicably lost a job where I thought I'd retire - it devastated me. People who I thought were close friends abandoned me and it took me years to get over it and even to surpass where I had been financially and from a status perspective. However, I used the year off trying to find my next gig writing a book that changed my life. I realized I had no network whatsoever, and this experience taught me a valuable lesson - relationships and reputation are everything.
The next job I landed was rather grueling - tasked with leading a struggling market with very limited resources making a fraction of what I made before. I made the most of it, but had no choice but to operate in a way that was best for the people and did not always please the powers that be. The business was bought and I was eliminated. It once again left me defeated and deflated - like all that work and effort taking them to the top was for naught.
But it wasn't. I made a relationship there that led me to my next gig, where I took a last place market to the top. And I made a relationship there that led me to my next gig - a new role where I was able to spread my wings despite lots and lots of roadblocks and setbacks and claim a top spot.
There are so many obstacles, roadblocks and losses in life. The only difference between those who succeed and those who don't is persistence. The determination to get up off the mat after you've been knocked down and stay in the fight is all that's required. I have lost far more than I've won, but am considered successful because I never accept defeat as the end.
I would never compare any of our personal comebacks to that of our Lord, but it is powerful to know the mission and sacrifices He embodied and made.
Trust me, I know what it feels like to have the fight taken out of you, to feel demotivated or unvalued, completely alone, worthless and hopeless. I've made that hard walk to the unemployment office to file and re-up time and time and time again with no end in sight, being rejected for hundreds upon hundreds of jobs. I've lost people who I thought I was close to, had a lot of unfair things happen to me, and had multiple people put the screws to me, try to tear me down, bully me and change the rules on me to defeat me.
But it didn't work. As long as I have a breath in my being, this world is ALWAYS going to get my best. My all.
Faith and family have carried me through. Hindsight is 20/20, and looking back, I am so very grateful for every crushing defeat because it led to coming back better.
Whether you've written it, or are writing it now, what's your comeback story?
#OvercomingAdversity #ComebackJourney #PerseverancePaysOff #FindingStrength #RisingFromDefeat #NeverGiveUpHope #RebuildingDreams #TriumphOverSetbacks #EmpoweringComebacks
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