I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my childhood hero's memoir since my last post. An hour and123 pages since I picked it up this afternoon, and my curiosity has been fed... not satisfied, but fed.

Would I recommend that you read Sting's memoir? No, you wouldn't like it. Am I eager to have my teenage brother read the book? Absolutely. With plenty of pictures and a simplistic writing style, the book suits its intended audience. The teenage boys who loved Sting's power in the ring are introduced to a new storyline in wrestling culture: God's grace and redemptive power.

As a longtime fan, the biographical material was motivating, yet the real inspiration is the reminder that behind every stage dpersona there is a person struggling to draw closer to their Creator. Sting's testimony reminds me of a simple truth: God knows our name and He has a plan for developing our character within His storyline.

Before you dismiss this post as just another reflection on the basics, entertain my ramblings for a few moments. As I was reading, I was reminded of the irony of how Christ developed the character of Peter. Jesus knew who Peter was, assigned him the role of the "stone" in the saga, and then allowed his character to develop through trials, accomplishments, and tribulations. Before the transformation of his character even began, Peter was assigned the persona that he would eventually fulfill.

Part of a wrestler's career is assigning themselves a new name and developing a persona. Sting's character was "a vigilante out to right the wrongs that were happening" (90), meant to "bring justice to the situation" (91). "The real Sting was a lonely warrior fighting for right" (92). However, the real Steve Borden was a wreck: never home, addicted to prescription drug cocktails, more concerned with his fame than his family, mocked his family for their faith, and destroying his marriage. He was nothing like his television persona. Repeatedly he promised that his next career move would improve his character as a family man committed to God- he even responded to several altar calls promising that he would change. He recounts that "the truth is I was trying to deal with God instead of surrendering to Him" (109). He saw that God was calling him to right the wrongs in his own life, yet he moved further and further away from restoring justice until his "moment of truth".

Caught in his sin, the man known for his silence on stage was given the opportunity to confess all... as his story progresses, 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 has become his mantra. Before leaving the ring, he professed his faith to all of his colleagues in the industry and continues to share his story with his fans through this ,truth be told, horribly written book and an even cornier docu-drama of the same name.

I think more than anything reading Sting's book has reminded me that we are called to be faithful with the things that we have been given and to serve and glorify God in whatever arena we are placed. It is always encouraging to hear how someone wrestles with God and is completely transformed. It is even more encouraging to hear how Sting used the resources he was given- the wrestling persona- to glorify God.

" ¹⁰ "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. ¹¹If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? ¹²And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? ¹³ No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."” - Luke 16:10-13 ESV