I was warming up to play a USTA doubles match with my partner, and soon saw that our opponents were awesomely good. They were statuesque athletes, much younger, super fit, and hit the ball at rocket speed. I was intimidated!
As the match began, and I faced these opponents from across the net, I tensed with fear of them hitting the ball so hard I would rarely get to it in time, or fail to return it adequately. I realized that if I was going to play well, I needed to have that fear gone for it was restricting my thought and body. So, I started to love them.
Instead of seeing two scary opponents, I saw two children of God desiring to play tennis to the best of their abilities, and I was a child of God too wanting to do the same. There was nothing to fear about their skills, but everything to appreciate and honor. It was okay that they hit the ball hard. God gave me the ability to respond accordingly and understand how to return those balls with accuracy. My need was to listen for God’s guidance and know what to do. God knew, and God would tell me.
I didn’t need to fear what they might do, but love what I could do.
The tension vanished. My body relaxed. My thought found peace, and I soon discerned how to return those incredibly fast balls they were sending our way. I felt a higher power in control of my playing while on court. It felt good. It felt holy.
We went to a 3rd set tie-break, and my partner and I managed to pull off a win, but the biggest reward of the match wasn’t the final score so much as the spiritual lesson I learned—don’t fear your opponents. Love them and let divine Love take over your thought so you can play the best game you’re capable of.
Wow! So true and yet how many of us would think to apply our prayers like that. Just like Goliath don’t let appearances fool us Whatever we need to respond with is ours. Just listen and remove the fears. God never puts us in any situation where we can’t have dominion And when we know who we truly are we can always be winners in God’s eyes!
Oh thanlk you Evan, so helpful. It can be applied in any situation.
I just had a short phonecall wanting to talk to his wife, but she was not there. So I had to tell him what I had to say. He thanked me. But when we hang on I had the feeling as if he is an opponent to me. And I knew he is not, but I had to clarify that in my thinking. I just tried to do what you said Evan, i.e.to let divine Love take over my thoughts. Thanks to your SpiritView of today I am now comforted, to love him and see him as God`s child. I`m very grateful for your healing SVs 🙂
Very interesting post Evan, Thank you.
I had thought come to me last night about this very subject. The thought came to me about Fear and bias and how fear and bias are the human emotions that is primarily meant to keep us safe with the ability to recognize our own herd and alert us to any imminent danger from outside that herd. Fear freezes us in place, meant to keep us safe from any outside forces to see us by our movement. But until we see and realize our spiritual nature, we cannot over come that human nature. As in this weeks lesson brings out, “progress is the law of God,” this progress is moving beyond the human to spiritual experience as reality. Spiritual progress frees us from this frozen state created by fear and bias, releasing us to our true nature as children of God, wholly good and free to act as we are spiritually created.
That is such an interesting comment! It applies directly to (among other things) the current issue in the USA of police shooting African-Americans: attributing danger to anyone “outside the herd.”
The mortal belief of “others” representing danger is currently being promoted aggressively, both here and elsewhere around the globe. It’s so important to refute that claim, and affirm the oneness of humankind! We are all God’s perfect creations, all with many gifts to offer the world. Looking for and appreciating those gifts is so important, as well as loving ALL our neighbors!
I noticed that what you said about your opponents’ skills (“There was nothing to fear about their skills, but everything to appreciate and honor”) would also apply to your own skills. God’s loving truths bless all.
Thank you Evan for the great message in how to handle fear, intimidation and our own thoughts about an opponent, competition or just the mortal thoughts of limitation which are prevalent all through the day in one way or another. I am working on similar ideas in how to better express dominion over fear which tries to restrict my thought and body especially when in athletic competition. Your response helps me to remember to love all participants and myself more fully and completely. I can see it is essential to relax and let God’s love guide me in all my actions to express peace what ever my activity may be. Love leads the way. I appreciate your first hand example of listening and being guided to find the right solution to the challenge at hand. Letting divine Love take over my thought so I can play the best game I’m capable of is a joy. Thanks!
Thank you Evan! Last night I saw an acquaintance who often opens a greeting to me by saying things that feel negative and make me uncomfortable. I applied a similar change of thought in thinking that she is meaning well and perhaps doesn’t know what to say. So I dismissed the comments and greeted her warmly. And I felt I won over error because I felt uplifted and not criticized!
That’s a win!!
Great lesson! Thank you Evan.
What is an opponent, truly,
When at play in
the fields of our Lord?
An opponent becomes
an opportunity
and therefore
a Blessing
Lovely Maximo, thank you – definitely one to share. Thank you also to Evan and all contributors today.
Hi Maximo,
I would add (love to add something to your inspiring poems):
An opponent becomes
an opportunity
expressing his Creator, Love
and therefore
a Blessing
What a great team we are
becoming Uta
Nice and helpful blog about facing opponents. I play tennis too. I played a doubles mixer last night at Gold’s gym. I needed to see my opponents with more love. It’s helped me with my tennis game but also helped me with my overall joy and etiquette and the snacks after then 3 hours were done (6-9pm). It’s this love that needs to be demonstrated. And this was good practice — to demonstrate that love. It’s not always too easy to love the opponents, especially if boring, hackneyed traits get in the way that speaks otherwise of something that is not of love. So, thanks, that was helpful! Jason
Question. When is your Association? I need to choose a CS Association yet for this year, as I have to visit each year because my teacher passed on some years ago, and our Association dissolved. Would you please tell me when and where your Association meets? Thanks. Jason