The Best Part of Stubbornness

Anybody remember this commercial from the “Get a Mac” campaign?

The expression “touche” is French word used in the sport of fencing. When your opponent touches you with the tip of his “foil,” you acknowledge by saying touche. It’s a way of saying, “you got me” and admitting defeat. It’s throwing in the towel because you’ve been beaten.

How many of us love the movie, “The Princess Bride?” One character, Inigo, refused to say “touche.” You remember he spent his life in pursuit of the six-fingered man who killed his defenseless father. Just like the prodigal son in Luke 15, he had a speech prepared for the moment. Say it with me…

“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

Or watch the clips from the movie, including the climax with the language you may not use in church.

In July I came out of a meeting and checked a voicemail from my dad. I returned his call and he told me a doctor’s visit confirmed some of his worries. Inoperable lung cancer. Over the next month he went through a series of biopsies, tests, and consultations with various doctors. In early September he started chemotherapy.

It’s been amazing to watch my dad. He’s 73 years old and over the last few months battling lung cancer and enduring chemotherapy he has continued a busy life. There are days with nausea, dizziness and fatigue, but my old man has been pressing on doing home renovations which is a hobby and work he’s done in his retirement to avoid insanity from sitting around doing nothing.

I’ve had many people ask, “How’s your dad doing?” I’ll tell them stories of how he continues to work and be active. Many have been amazed at his activity and persistence at his age. The thing I keep telling them is, “It will take a lot more than cancer to get him to slow down.”

There’s something about this stubbornness that is inspiring. No doubt, anyone battling cancer or other chronic or terminal illnesses can be inspired to fight hard each day. But we all need a little stubbornness in our lives, no matter what.

It’s easy to give in to our opponents. It’s easy to say, “touche…I give up…you got me.”

• When you’re trying to get out of debt and the ease of charging “one more time” tempts you.
• When you’re trying to lose weight and the holiday feast gatherings begin.
• When you’re trying to work through hardships in relationships and the other person seems unwilling.
• When you’re working your life’s dream plan and the obstacles seem bigger than the dream itself.

Foe after foe and obstacle after obstacle. Distractions. Temptations. Disruptions. Simply being too tired to go on.

I have to ask you. Are you stubborn enough?

You have a choice to refuse to give in and surrender. You don’t have to acknowledge that your opponent has touched you to the point that you’re giving up. You have a choice to keep trying, keep fighting, keep creating, keep working and keep growing. Anything short of stubbornness may simply allow relationships, dreams and impact to die.

Today my dad will get an update on how his treatments are progressing and the next steps. I know he’s tired of chemotherapy, but regardless of what report he gets from a doctor, he won’t be giving up anytime soon. He’s way too stubborn.

Follow my dad’s example. Don’t give up. Be stubborn.

Questions for you…

• What are areas where you have wanted to give up?
• How do you stay motivated to keep fighting?