By Danny Minton

Billy Miske was a blue-collar heavy-weight fighter in the early 1920s. He fought in the days when a fighter, after knocking down his opponent, could still stand over him and continue to beat on him until the bell rang. 

Billy fought the great Jack Dempsey. Dempsey beat Billy for three rounds until the fight was called. He fought Tommy Gibbons, Battling Levinski, and Harry Greb. Miske was young and willing to fight anyone to make a living for his family. 

Then, in 1919, he found out his kidneys were shot, and he had Bright’s disease, an acute inflammation of the kidneys. He was 25 with a high fever, and the doctors advised him not to fight, but Billy couldn’t quit. Billy had a family to support. He continued to fight almost 30 times after the diagnosis. 

 He had one fight in January of 1922 and became too weak to work out in the gym and stay in shape. He stayed home with his wife and children and tried to make what money he had stretch out to survive. 

Finally, he had no choice but to go to his manager, Jack Reddy. It was Christmas 1923, and he had no money for Christmas for his kids. He begged Reddy for a fight, but Jack told him that it could kill him, and he didn’t want to take that chance. Billy continued to beg, and Reddy finally told him to go to the gym, and if he showed he could fight, he would get him one. Billy told him he was too weak to work out; just get him a fight. He was busted and needed a fight to get money for his family. What was the difference if it killed him? He was dying anyway.

Finally, Jack Reddy gave in and lined up an aging Bill Brennon, who had fought Dempsey through 12 rounds. Billy stayed home, resting and keeping his strength up for the fight. The fight night came; Billy fought, took his $2400 check, and promptly spent it on his family for a great Christmas together. 

On December 26, Billy called Jack and asked Jack to take him to the hospital. On New Year’s Day, 1924, Billy Miske died. He died six weeks after the fight with Brennon. He could have taken a fall, gotten his money, and left. Instead, he fought Brennon for four grueling rounds. Then, in round four, Billy Miske, weak and dying, knocked out Bill Brennon.

A lot of people struggle in life with seeming failure after failure. Some folks seem to be burdened with hard luck and setbacks. They often want another chance to succeed, listening for someone saying, “I’m here to help you.”

Everyone sometimes in life makes mistakes. We mess up, have problems, and, at times, foul up. The great thing about being a Christian is that someone is always there to save us when we mess up or foul up—someone to give us another chance even when it seems useless. 

I learned playing football that when someone fumbles the next time they are in the game; you give them the ball again. If the quarterback throws an interception, have him throw again as soon as possible. Why? To rebuild confidence, get over the failure, and move on. 

It’s nice to know that Jesus gives us second chances, thirds, fourths, and fifths. He hopes that one of these days, we will succeed. In the same way, we should be like God, always willing to give people a second chance, showing that we believe in them and want them to succeed in God’s kingdom. We should be eager to allow people another chance to earn our trust to be who God wants them to be.

In the movie “The Return of the King,” based on JRR Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings,” there is a quote that reminds us of the importance to keep trying.

“One tiny Hobbit against all the evil the world could muster. A sane being would have given up, but Samwise burned with a magnificent madness, a glowing obsession to surmount every obstacle, to find Frodo, destroy the Ring, and cleanse Middle Earth of its festering malignancy. He knew he would try again. Fail, perhaps. And try once more. A thousand, thousand times if need be, but he would not give up the quest.”

May we never give up on ourselves and always be willing to give others a second chance, even when it seems hopeless. There are two things to remember. First, as Christians, we aim to build, not tear down. Secondly, remember, the heart of a man of God is stronger than any obstacle that stands in his way.

^“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV2011)

Danny Minton is a former Elder and minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ