Watching and Listening to the PBR event this weekend in Des Moines, and seeing Mike Lee win the event, prompted me to write this blog. The meaning of the title is based on two parts - Mike's reactions to difficult times, including buck offs and the second is his outspoken faith. Mike is a pretty simple guy, what you see, is who he is. He's not flashy, but will take the shirt off his back and give it to you, even if it meant him going without one. Not only does he not seek the limelight, he seems uncomfortable when he is in it. He is there to do his job, which is to ride bulls and give God the glory for what He has given him, however much or little that is. This does not mean he is a recluse and will not meet or talk to fans. He is at the fan signings, taking pictures, smiling and talking. He walks around the arena on the dirt, after the event, signing and taking pictures, for as long as it takes. With all that said, Mike is a bull rider and that is what he loves to do.
Winning with Grace (1) Sometimes how someone handles adversity, can tell us who they are. Adversity can come in bad times, but adversity can happen even if things are seemingly perfect. How we act or react in good and bad times is a reflection that many can see, especially when you are an athlete and the public is always watching. During last year's season, Mike suffered through many injuries that either kept him out of events or caused him not to be at his best as he attempted to stay on a 2,000 pound bucking bull. I watched after each buck off for some negative reactions from him, but all Mike would do was pick up his bull rope and walk slowly out of the arena. You could see the dejection on his face, as though he just lost his favorite dog. However, watching buck off after buck off, no negative reactions, just the same slow walk.
In my younger days of playing sports, it was difficult for me to control my emotions when I lost. When I did not perform up to what I thought I should/could, it would be like a dagger in my soul and the aggravation would show. No serious outbursts, just mood changes that nobody wanted to be by my side for at least a day. I think the term is "being a bear". I personally know how difficult it is to control one's temper and internal emotions. That is why I respect any athlete, bull riders included, that can control those emotions. All athletes are competitive and hate to lose. Sometimes, it is not that you lost or even if you won, but how you handled each of those scenarios. Mike handles winning with the same grace that he handles losing. There are other riders in the PBR that are just like Mike, and those that are not, would be doing themselves a big favor if they watched, listened and applied what Mike and those others have to offer.
Winning with Grace (2) Mike will be the first to tell you that bull riding is what he does for a living, but being a follower of Jesus Christ is who he is. Whenever he is interviewed, most of the conversation reverts back to his faith and the strength and peace he gets from that. This weekend, as I was listening to the live audio on Saturday night, as Mike was being interviewed after winning his first event since 2008, he mentioned Jesus twice. Once was a reference to Christ dying on the cross. It is refreshing to see and hear such words spoken in front of thousands of people and no apologies given for Christ's name being said. In today's society, even in a Christian nation, it is not popular to use the term God, and it is even less popular to use the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Society is more interested in political correctness and not offending people to the point that many Christians have become silent in their views of their faith. Being a Christian is who we are and wanting to share that with others is what we should do and what many of us have in our heart to do. Fortunately, there are many Christian riders in the PBR and the PBR allows the Riding High Ministries to conduct church services at every event and encourage fans to attend. Mike is a great ambassador for the PBR and he is also a great ambassador for God. The grace of God is certainly with Mike, no matter if he ever wins an event or title again. God's grace can been seen in Mike's face and his words, and I for one, am thankful that he is a part of the PBR.
Winning with Grace (1) Sometimes how someone handles adversity, can tell us who they are. Adversity can come in bad times, but adversity can happen even if things are seemingly perfect. How we act or react in good and bad times is a reflection that many can see, especially when you are an athlete and the public is always watching. During last year's season, Mike suffered through many injuries that either kept him out of events or caused him not to be at his best as he attempted to stay on a 2,000 pound bucking bull. I watched after each buck off for some negative reactions from him, but all Mike would do was pick up his bull rope and walk slowly out of the arena. You could see the dejection on his face, as though he just lost his favorite dog. However, watching buck off after buck off, no negative reactions, just the same slow walk.
In my younger days of playing sports, it was difficult for me to control my emotions when I lost. When I did not perform up to what I thought I should/could, it would be like a dagger in my soul and the aggravation would show. No serious outbursts, just mood changes that nobody wanted to be by my side for at least a day. I think the term is "being a bear". I personally know how difficult it is to control one's temper and internal emotions. That is why I respect any athlete, bull riders included, that can control those emotions. All athletes are competitive and hate to lose. Sometimes, it is not that you lost or even if you won, but how you handled each of those scenarios. Mike handles winning with the same grace that he handles losing. There are other riders in the PBR that are just like Mike, and those that are not, would be doing themselves a big favor if they watched, listened and applied what Mike and those others have to offer.
Winning with Grace (2) Mike will be the first to tell you that bull riding is what he does for a living, but being a follower of Jesus Christ is who he is. Whenever he is interviewed, most of the conversation reverts back to his faith and the strength and peace he gets from that. This weekend, as I was listening to the live audio on Saturday night, as Mike was being interviewed after winning his first event since 2008, he mentioned Jesus twice. Once was a reference to Christ dying on the cross. It is refreshing to see and hear such words spoken in front of thousands of people and no apologies given for Christ's name being said. In today's society, even in a Christian nation, it is not popular to use the term God, and it is even less popular to use the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Society is more interested in political correctness and not offending people to the point that many Christians have become silent in their views of their faith. Being a Christian is who we are and wanting to share that with others is what we should do and what many of us have in our heart to do. Fortunately, there are many Christian riders in the PBR and the PBR allows the Riding High Ministries to conduct church services at every event and encourage fans to attend. Mike is a great ambassador for the PBR and he is also a great ambassador for God. The grace of God is certainly with Mike, no matter if he ever wins an event or title again. God's grace can been seen in Mike's face and his words, and I for one, am thankful that he is a part of the PBR.
I agree -- Mike's "slow walk" is heart-wrenching, and we saw it way too often during the last 1-2 years. Also, we too often saw him struggle to leave the dirt at all -- at one point it seemed like he had a bad wreck every other weekend, and there were times he was hurting so badly that when he did his customary kneel, I was just hoping he'd be able to make it back to his feet afterward. Yet, as you say, we never saw him lose his head or give in to the frustration he must have been feeling. He knew how to lose with grace and cling to his faith even when he was close to being cut from the BFTS.
ReplyDeleteHaving seen him go through such adversity and deal with it in a godly manner, it's especially sweet to see him riding so well the last few months. And it's sweeter yet to see him still kneel and give God the glory, win or lose!