What a weekend! My family and I attended three days of the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament happening in Indian Wells, CA. We wanted to expose our budding tennis player son to high quality talent, plus my wife and I were anxious to see what we could learn to improve our game.
We learned plenty!
I spent half days working in my practice, and the other half on the sidelines observing some world class tennis players. What a treat.
I picked up many spiritual lessons during this time, many that can be related to life in general.
For instance, during the Gonzalez versus Ancic match, Gonzalez got upset with himself for making errors. From the stands, Gonzalez seemed like a really nice guy, someone you’d like to have as a friend, but when he hit a random ball out of the stadium in disgust one time, the umpire penalized him. Another time he threw his racket with anger into the air and it landed noisily on the ground.
Fortunately, the unsuspecting landing spot was a tough man with broad shoulders and he took the hard impact in good humor. Gonzalez was a bit horrified when he realized what he had done, and apologized to the man. The incident quickly passed, and his fans loved him all the same.
But I started thinking about the unintended consequences out-of-control temper can have on others, even when it is not specifically directed at them.
Gonzalez was not mad at this spectator, but his anger affected the gentleman anyway.
I decided that anger is never innocent even when directed at oneself. It can have harmful consequences in unexpected places if not checked.
For example, have you ever had a family member who got angry with him or herself, and his or her anger depressed the whole mood of the home? Maybe even threw it into turmoil? it’s a case of unintended consequences and unintended victims!
To ensure we are an influence for love and harmony only, it’s healthy to keep anger under check, even when it feels justified. It never is. God designed us to express love and spread peace and harmony. Our thoughts and actions do affect others around us, and it’s always to our advantage, and everyone else’s, to be a positive influence, and not the source of rage-driven tennis balls that land harmfully in unsuspecting places.
“Love one another,” as the Bible teaches, and this rule includes not getting angry with ourselves. We are worthy of God’s unqualified love too! I hope Gonzalez forgives himself more rapidly in the future.
More lessons learned to come…
Great article-many of us learn the hard way- anger is never as war never helps or heals but destroys all that we love and respect.
Love ever helps and heals never destroys but blooms forth.
In a number of careers that I have worked. Some management personnel seem to dwell of the fact that a mistake was made and want to place blame on that individual or individuals. I have found that we need to focus on correcting the issue and move on.
This not only heals the incident but joins in the expressions of love and units our friendship. I usually get a thanks and our efforts result in greater productivity and strength as a unit to go forward and meet many challenges with success.
Just had a clear example and lesson- boiling spilled milk burned a pot and the stovetop matched the accident while trying to do several tasks- thinking of getting heated with guilt and reaction I thought about the power of Love never hurting or harm staining any situation- do not be impressed by the heated stovetop nor the burned scorched pot- do not rub against- let the cool balm of Love cool and melt the heat away-the pot burning crust fell way-clean and sparkling then acknowledging Love’s immediate care the stovetop also restored, redeemed all recovered while I witnessed Love meeting my need.
Thank you for these wonderful lessons-then sharing God’s grace!