Life: Ninja Warrior or Wipeout?
Originally written July 2021 | Edited July 2025
Have you ever watched that show American Ninja Warrior (ANW)? It’s the one where highly trained athletes compete on a course filled with intense physical challenges. You often see clips of their training beforehand — practicing monkey bars, rings, climbing, jumping — they come prepared. Their friends, families, teammates, and coaches are nearby, cheering them on, waving signs, holding their breath, and gasping in unison.
These wanna-be warriors do their best to make it through the course, but if they fall into the water below, it’s game over. Still, their fans shout, “We love you anyway!”
Then there’s that other show… Wipeout.
You know the one — where contestants get bounced, punched, flung, and generally pummeled while trying to qualify for the final round. All the while, the announcers laugh, mock, and tease from the sidelines. When a contestant falls into the water (or mud), they scramble to get back to the last obstacle they “survived” and keep going until their time is up.
As I watched Wipeout yesterday (yes, I laughed — don’t judge me!), I thought, this show is a perfect metaphor for life — and what a stark contrast to Ninja Warrior.
On Wipeout, contestants may or may not be physically fit. I’ve seen all shapes and sizes. But the Ninja folks? They all seem as fit as a fiddle. ANW competitors know what’s coming — they’ve trained for the exact skill needed to conquer the exact obstacle in their way. They run with precision, focus, and a clear goal: hit that buzzer.
But Wipeout? It’s all about the unexpected.
That’s what makes it so painfully relatable. Wipeout contestants are blindsided every time. They have no idea what’s coming — and I don’t think it matters how fit they are. You can’t really train for the unexpected.
They just show up and go.
Sometimes they get bounced off the giant red balls.
Sometimes they get socked by a giant boxing glove that pops out from behind a random door.
Sometimes the platform they’re standing on suddenly tilts and shakes violently, launching them into the water — not disqualified, but definitely delayed.
Life is very much that way.
You’re cruising along, thinking everything is fine, and then — WHAM! — here comes a sucker punch you never saw coming. It sends you flying, flat on your back, and lands you in the pit. But giving up isn’t an option… because your time isn’t up.
So what do you do?
You muster your strength.
You gather your courage.
You try to salvage your dignity.
You get back up and return to the course.
Hopefully, you’ve learned something — what to watch for, when to pause, how to bob and weave to survive the next hit.
To make it worse, the Wipeout announcers give the contestants nicknames and sarcastic commentary. Just like in real life.
There’s always someone watching from the sidelines, ready to critique.
Backseat drivers. Armchair quarterbacks. Haters.
Call them what you want — they’re there.
But what we really need?
Someone in our corner, shouting from the sideline: “We love you anyway!”
Because life will come at you with unexpected punches.
It’s not a matter of if… it’s a matter of when.
Cancer.
Unemployment.
A pandemic.
Addiction.
The death of a loved one.
Financial crisis.
So many unexpected things…
But we don’t give up.
We make our way back to the course.
We go again.
We bob. We weave.
We may be tired — but we are wiser.
And we don’t do it alone.
“I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:13
“Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” — Psalm 37:24
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair… struck down, but not destroyed.” — 2 Corinthians 4:8–9
So don’t quit, friend.
Fall if you must — but don’t stay down.
Jesus is with you, cheering you on…with his poster board sign that says "I love you anyway!"
…and He will carry you through.
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