Monday, July 18, 2005
I THINK JESUS WOULD HAVE MADE AN AWESOME CAPTAINS BALL TEAMMATE....
Attended the CAC organized captains ball tournament saterday…and I had such an awesome time. I was having a real good day health wise so that pretty much was skies the limit and all systems go to the push the body to the max. was not so much about the games and winning- It really was just so nice to be there, amongst fellow brothers and sisters- interacting and having a good time.
I’ve been to a couple of these events, I think I played my very first game when I was 17 or 18, and I remember being there with childhood church buddies Aaron, Euge and Robin. This was pretty much our “bring it on” and overtly “kwai lan” phase, always looking to argue referees calls, pushing, shoving and hoping someone would push that “react” button to unleash an ugly side I don’t really recall in fondness. We did win some games- sometimes we were very bad losers…but seriously who isn’t right!! But I remember we always had fun and not much kept us from smiling.
Saterday we lost all our games- I was still smiling 10 yrs down the road but it felt different. No!! I’m not saying as you grow older you get more comfortable with the idea of losing, but rather you learn to lose with more grace and realize that these events are not only about winning or losing but rather to also learn- about one self and how we deal with when we are thrown into a very human arena- filled with emotions where its so easy to loose yourself and forget that we are the bearers of the Fruits of the spirit. Love, patience…kindness,…I’m not saying I have them all down when I’m playing but I have learnt how to embrace them in an event such as this one. Thus knowing that even though we compete there are tons of lessons to be learnt-especially when we lose- we appreciate the sometimes forgotten fundamentals of sportsmanship such as fair play and self control.
I find it hard to enjoy anything I’m doing if I try too hard or if there’s someone screaming at me and telling me I suck and that I can do better. Surprisingly not trying so hard has worked wonders in many areas of my life. in my teens I would try so hard to look good but the harder I tried the worse I’d look so these days I wear what I think is fashionably sane and most ppl don’t mind being seen with me…laughs!! i enjoy playing music a lot more because I play what I feel rather then read everything off a sheet of paper (don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate the functionality of order) or be controlled by whats being played on a CD. God made us all different…we have gifts and talents that are ours and ours alone so I don’t get logic behind trying to be like someone else…or playing like someone else…being able to be your own person is so much cooler(but being influenced and motivated by something or someone is totally rocking too!!) , even working in the kitchen became better when I told myself to ease up on the other guys in the crew- rather then being anal about every detail that goes into cooking…I told myself to enjoy my job and not be so uptight and I love sports because when you stop trying to win everything and purely enjoy sport because you love everything ELSE about it- like the sweating, the high fives shared amongst teammates , even after losing there’s still this sense of accomplishment that we tried our very best and that kinda effort counts for so much more rather then playing a game using brutish thuggery and still losing the game.
The point I would like to make is that Jesus Christ in his short life here on earth did not play any games or win any medals but he was the biggest winner if there ever was one. Because he championed Christianity like no one else and he was absolute human. He played against odds that would have crushed the spirit of a normal person….probably make them want to cheat, lie and take a cheap shot just to win. Now if we as Christians don’t even know how to conduct ourselves proper and “play” a simple game of captains ball, how are we going to “play” the more complex game of life. where the calls will be harsher(trials and tribulations), the defence stronger (getting through to our non Christian buddies perhaps) and the offence merciless. (attacks on our religion, moral values). Everyday I come to understand the Lord and his words a lot better. the plays for the game of life are in the bible…there is no doubt the plays work so all that is needed is a team that has no doubts and faithfully executes the plays to be on the winning team. Just like in every sport there will be disappointments and sadness…but remember that even though we stumble the Lord will not allow us to fall because his hand will always be there to carry us along. So brothers and sisters pick up your bats and your basketballs and go out and play your best games because God in on the sidelines coaching, your fans are the angels and your teammates are your fellow Christians.
and heres a special shout out to new friends i made from grace methodist church....Wynne, Victor, Henry and Phoon.you guys rule!!!heres to more duck rice meals.
Enjoy the ride.
Attended the CAC organized captains ball tournament saterday…and I had such an awesome time. I was having a real good day health wise so that pretty much was skies the limit and all systems go to the push the body to the max. was not so much about the games and winning- It really was just so nice to be there, amongst fellow brothers and sisters- interacting and having a good time.
I’ve been to a couple of these events, I think I played my very first game when I was 17 or 18, and I remember being there with childhood church buddies Aaron, Euge and Robin. This was pretty much our “bring it on” and overtly “kwai lan” phase, always looking to argue referees calls, pushing, shoving and hoping someone would push that “react” button to unleash an ugly side I don’t really recall in fondness. We did win some games- sometimes we were very bad losers…but seriously who isn’t right!! But I remember we always had fun and not much kept us from smiling.
Saterday we lost all our games- I was still smiling 10 yrs down the road but it felt different. No!! I’m not saying as you grow older you get more comfortable with the idea of losing, but rather you learn to lose with more grace and realize that these events are not only about winning or losing but rather to also learn- about one self and how we deal with when we are thrown into a very human arena- filled with emotions where its so easy to loose yourself and forget that we are the bearers of the Fruits of the spirit. Love, patience…kindness,…I’m not saying I have them all down when I’m playing but I have learnt how to embrace them in an event such as this one. Thus knowing that even though we compete there are tons of lessons to be learnt-especially when we lose- we appreciate the sometimes forgotten fundamentals of sportsmanship such as fair play and self control.
I find it hard to enjoy anything I’m doing if I try too hard or if there’s someone screaming at me and telling me I suck and that I can do better. Surprisingly not trying so hard has worked wonders in many areas of my life. in my teens I would try so hard to look good but the harder I tried the worse I’d look so these days I wear what I think is fashionably sane and most ppl don’t mind being seen with me…laughs!! i enjoy playing music a lot more because I play what I feel rather then read everything off a sheet of paper (don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate the functionality of order) or be controlled by whats being played on a CD. God made us all different…we have gifts and talents that are ours and ours alone so I don’t get logic behind trying to be like someone else…or playing like someone else…being able to be your own person is so much cooler(but being influenced and motivated by something or someone is totally rocking too!!) , even working in the kitchen became better when I told myself to ease up on the other guys in the crew- rather then being anal about every detail that goes into cooking…I told myself to enjoy my job and not be so uptight and I love sports because when you stop trying to win everything and purely enjoy sport because you love everything ELSE about it- like the sweating, the high fives shared amongst teammates , even after losing there’s still this sense of accomplishment that we tried our very best and that kinda effort counts for so much more rather then playing a game using brutish thuggery and still losing the game.
The point I would like to make is that Jesus Christ in his short life here on earth did not play any games or win any medals but he was the biggest winner if there ever was one. Because he championed Christianity like no one else and he was absolute human. He played against odds that would have crushed the spirit of a normal person….probably make them want to cheat, lie and take a cheap shot just to win. Now if we as Christians don’t even know how to conduct ourselves proper and “play” a simple game of captains ball, how are we going to “play” the more complex game of life. where the calls will be harsher(trials and tribulations), the defence stronger (getting through to our non Christian buddies perhaps) and the offence merciless. (attacks on our religion, moral values). Everyday I come to understand the Lord and his words a lot better. the plays for the game of life are in the bible…there is no doubt the plays work so all that is needed is a team that has no doubts and faithfully executes the plays to be on the winning team. Just like in every sport there will be disappointments and sadness…but remember that even though we stumble the Lord will not allow us to fall because his hand will always be there to carry us along. So brothers and sisters pick up your bats and your basketballs and go out and play your best games because God in on the sidelines coaching, your fans are the angels and your teammates are your fellow Christians.
and heres a special shout out to new friends i made from grace methodist church....Wynne, Victor, Henry and Phoon.you guys rule!!!heres to more duck rice meals.
Enjoy the ride.
