KICK BOXER

I tasted the blood on my cut lip and smelled the sweat of my own fear. The roar of the crowd faded beneath the sound of my own racing heartbeat and the grunt of my opponent as I landed the next brutal blow.

My name is Somchai Soonthornturasuk - "Macho man." As a Mai Thai kick boxer my duty was to deal out and counteract lethal blows. The aim:victory and ruining the career of my opponent in the ring. The satisfaction of delivering visious lightening-fast punishment was one way to overcome my own body's agony after the match was fought and won. I owed it to myself, my fighting reputation, and my hordes of faithful admirers. And I paid my fans back handsomely with the huge amounts of money they'd gambled on my win.

As I jumped from the ring I felt their love and concern over my bruises. Hurting badly I'd stagger later when no one could see. Soon these good fellows would take me out to the best of Bangkok's nightclubs. The liquor helped dull my sore ribs and battered thighs. I don't know why it never occurred to me that while they were getting richer and fatter, I was suffering more and more. But popularity is a strong drug. Despite my rigorous training sessions it was becoming more difficult to gain peak condition. But drinking, smoking, and carousing were softening me up for a painful shock.

After a long session with my warm-hearted friends, I doubled over in an agony that would not quit. I ended up in Bangkok Hospital with ulcer perforations. My friends tried to cheer me saying, "Don't worry, you are young and can start over again. Of course I would. Pain was not new to me. I believed in myself. My career was my life!

But as dreary day followed dreary day, I invented new excuses for the absence of my friends. Finally, like the venom of a cobra strike the truth sunk in. Even now they'd be fawning over young hopefuls. A heavy blanket of depression settled over me and I didn't care if I died. The fight had gone from me.

But right at the point of my deepest need, God stepped in to the ring of my life. A group of young Christians visited the hospital to say hello to patients and share with music and some told of their relationship with Jesus Christ. I'd never heard anything like it before and listened closely. I needed no convincing I needed a saviour because sin was real to me. And after i asked Him into my life, the great weights of disappointment, frustration, and bitterness left. I felt as fine as I did before a match. Needing some new guidelines to follow now, I entered a Bible college to learn more about this.

So the work that Jesus began in me continues. Once I fought for fame; now I fight so that others may receive the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Somchai shared the above testimony with me and it has been such a wonderful experience to have worked with him all over Thailand for the past twenty odd years. The best part is the distribution of thousands of Thai John's Gospels in Buddhist schools, prisons, hospital, orphanages, tribal areas, and market places where we have freedom to tell the Good news. We never denigrate Buddha, instead we uplift Christ. He is all anyone needs.

Rita has published a historical trilogy. See: www.ritastellapress.com and facebook

Celebrating the little wins

I love seeing wins from other authors when they share them on social media.

It’s great to see when people you know are launching a book or have signed a contract. It’s heartwarming to share in the big wins of award nominations or best-seller lists. It's encouraging to see colleagues (and friends) recognised for the talent they have and the stories they tell.

It helps when, like me, you’re stuck in a bit of a no-mans land.

Allow me to explain … I’ve written two manuscripts. The first one is a finalist in the Oregon Christian Writers Cascade competition, the second is being looked at by a number of agents.

That’s good – it’s some kind of recognition at least. I’d much rather have those than a series of flat-out rejections, but I’m now waiting for answers. I haven’t had any ‘noes’ but I also haven’t had any ‘yesses’. Hence no-mans land.

So in this time of waiting (I’m still writing by the way) and before I’ve got anything significant to celebrate, I’ve taken to celebrating the little wins in my writing. Those things that might otherwise slide on past unacknowledged.  So this is my list of celebrations in the past month:

• Someone read the first three chapters of my award-nominated manuscript and asked “where’s the rest?”
• I came up with another novel concept that, after I fleshed it out and analysed it in the cold, hard light of another day, was actually still as good as when I came up with it.
• I told my elevator pitch for my next manuscript to someone and they wanted to know more.
• I came up with a plot twist that improves my WIP, it's still consistent with my characters and works on every level.
• I set myself a goal to write 6,000 words in a week and I did.
• The short story I wrote for my newsletter got some great feedback from people who said they were touched by it.
• I connected with my mentor and got another shot of encouragement and support.
• My first newsletter went out and subscribers took the time to email me their appreciation of what I’d done (if you do want to subscribe, visit my web site: www.davidrawlings.com.au and you'll get that short story I mentioned before.)

That’s how I’ve decided to address no-mans land. While I’m waiting for big news, I’m enjoying the steps on the journey. And one thing I keep appreciating about celebrating your little wins – it helps you appreciate the hard work you’re putting in, and allows you to see the everyday things you may otherwise miss.

Which little wins could you celebrate this month?

About David Rawlings

Based in Adelaide, South Australia, I am a sports-mad, married father-of-three with my own copywriting/communication business who reads everything within an arm’s reach. I can see a typo from across the room and always – always – make sure my text messages are grammatically correct.

Oh, and I love cooking, comedy and surfing. Over 25 years, I’ve made writing my career and paid the bills with words. It’s not a big leap from the six-year-old writing short stories instead of doing homework.

And now I'm working on finding a day between Wednesday and Thursday to squeeze in more writing.

www.davidrawlings.com.au