Living Life by Design

In 1973, Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King played their epic ‘Battle of the Sexes” match. My dad and I were glued to the television set watching every stroke. Before that match, I had never seen anyone play tennis. I was captivated, and so was my dad. A few days after the match, my dad went to the local sporting good store and bought our family a tennis set. It had two wood racquets and three pressure less tennis balls. I was so excited.

The following weekend we went to Faremount  Park in Riverside to play tennis. My mom and dad tried first while my sister and I chased balls. I patiently waited my turn to hit with my dad. It was miserable. It looked so easy on television. That was the first and last of our family tennis outings.

During my Christian life, I often found the same pattern. I would get excited hearing a pastor or evangelist talk (so eloquently) about the Lord, but when I tried, I would fumble for words and embarrass myself. I needed to up my game! The Christian life, just like tennis, requires discipline and lots of practice. Sometimes it can be difficult. You can get frustrated when your progression doesn’t come as quick as you would like. 

Later in life I made the decision to take tennis seriously. I began watching tennis on television and I purchased ‘Tennis Magazine’ every month. I spent hours studying how Jimmy Connors played the game. I practiced every day for two years (at times, even in the rain). A local tennis teaching pro saw how much I loved the game and how committed I was, gave me free lessons. I ended up playing 4 years of college tennis and then a year on the professional tennis tour. I have accumulated boxes upon boxes of trophies and awards over the years. All these years later, I still play tennis.

As a Christian, I am someone who believes in Jesus, I put my faith in him, I know him and I live ‘in Christ’. I am someone who follows his example. 

In my mind, Jimmy Connors is the tennis ‘G.O.A.T.’ (Greatest of all time). I did my best to study his strokes, his strategy, his work ethic, and emulate his game. Over my tennis career I inspired many others by my example. There is no greater example in human history than the example of Christ. Paul writes, ‘Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Over the years I accumulated boxes upon box’s of trophies and awards. The silver plates all tarnished and many of the trophies broke into pieces. My earthly prizes lost all their luster and simply did ‘not last’. As I said yesterday in my commentary…how much more should I (we) be pursuing a crown of glory that will never tarnish (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

What will you pursue today?