My wife and I played on a Mixed 18+ tennis team in a USTA tournament a couple of weeks ago, and had grand fun! Our team won 11 out of 12 matches, which was quite fun. And Kathy and I won all matches we played. But that’s not why I ‘m writing. LOL
I learned a new spiritual lesson, as I always do. And it’s this: it’s important to make up your mind ahead of time about what you expect to happen.
In past tournaments, too many times, I’d lose in 3rd set tiebreaks. And afterward wonder why I didn’t try a little harder. The difference between losing and winning is often one or two errors. And I could easily look back and see where I let my attention wander or lose focus right before an unforced error occurred.
Before this tournament, I decided that I had one goal. To stay focused during the match.
My goal is not to beat the opponent. There are often opponents who are better than me and deserve to win. So, my goal is to play the best I can. That defines winning for me. But thinking about doing the best you can and actually DOING it is often not the same.
This time, I was going to DO IT! I made up my mind.
And I stuck to the plan. The matches were tough. We had strong competition. Very fair, honest, even competition across the court. And when we started to slip behind, I resolved to not get distracted by fear, worry, anxiety or anything else negative. Stay focused on playing the best tennis possible, I reminded myself. Listen to the one Mind, not to fearful mortal mind, I remembered. And it worked. We rallied every time.
In this case, we won all our matches, but even if we didn’t, it would be okay. I stayed focused and proved that when you make up your mind toward a good end, you can demonstrate it. When you decide to play well, and know God is there to empower you to play well, you can play well. And that is enough.
“The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible. Exceptions only confirm this rule, proving that failure is occasioned by a too feeble faith.” Science and Health, p. 199.
The Father is showing off again! How perfect this SpiritView is for me today. I have been combing JSH online for articles on the right idea of “competition.” My German Shepherd and I have an important scent work trial coming up this week, and your article is the cherry on the top of all my study! Thank you so very much!
One of the most vivid lessons from my study came as two angel messages.
All the dogs are “placed” according to their times. I found my initial reaction was to want first “place.” But the angel message that came was “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s ‘place’.” The next thought was that GOOD only comes from God, not a “place”-ment! That settled the whole question, and took the wind right out of mortal thinking’s sails and aims. I could see that both of us were going out just to glorify God by expressing our God-given perfection with each move. Nothing could hold us back!
How wonderful now to have the final instruction of putting my mind to doing this full time by not letting my focus or attention wander from my goal!
Mrs. Eddy writes “Each individual must fill his own niche in time and eternity.” Ret 70 How safe then is each of us in our “place.” No one else can fill it but us. And each place is just perfect for us, since it is God’s delineation of our individual, unique identity.
thank you for adding more ideas and inspiration!!!
I love your observation of not coveting your neighbor’s “place!” Very good! I will remember that one. I have my own place to occupy, and it’s perfect for me! God’s place.
This is just exactly what I needed today. Practicing and demonstrating Christian Science takes focus!! So many distractions seem to be lurking around every corner. Thanks so much for these helpful thoughts and ideas on how to stay focused!
Thank you for the great ideas everyone. I, too, have been working to keep my thought more focused on God throughout my day so I really appreciate your insights. (Plus, I’m a tennis player so I can relate to the idea of staying focused in a match. ) In the Cedar Mets recently, the idea of to “to delight in the Lord” was explained more thoroughly. If we take delight in something, we are willing to spend time focused on it–for me that means getting up earlier or making time in my morning to pray and prepare my thought for the day, to really think–what is more important, to do some errand or chore or paperwork, or to be quiet and pray. I’m getting better at it, and I definitely find that when I take the time to really pray and get my thought focused on God, then my days are so much smoother, joyful, productive and most important, I am more loving.
It’s the same with music, right, Evan ?
We should always stay focused to perform the best we can, as full expressions of God , not letting fears, anxieties and doubts take over.
Thanks for sharing !
Hugs,
Playing a game of tennis and doing well reminded me of one of the baseball games my son played when he was in little league. I remember praying that morning and reading an article in one of the Christian Science periodicals about equipoise. I prayed to watch an excellently played game. My son’s team lost, but everyone went away with a smile because it was evident to everyone that everyone did his best. The game had been exciting to watch with the score being very close. That took place over 20 years ago and I still remember the joyful outcome of having seen a well played baseball game.