First Game 192, Second Game 105
Proverbs 4:25-27
Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil
What was the highest score you ever got when you bowled? Years ago, mine was 199. I have yet to bowl a 200 game. Some of you will be able to relate to what I am saying as far as the bowling goes. Others will be able to relate to the “feeling” I had when I bowled the 192. I’m not talking about the feeling of YAY, LOOK AT ME, ANOTHER STRIKE. I didn’t have that feeling AT ALL. This is the reason I am writing this and I can’t get “that feeling” I had when bowling, out of my head and I want more of it. It did not just affect my head but my WHOLE BODY. I’ll try to explain, the best I can, how I was feeling and the reason I bowled a 192 on my first game that day.
I went bowling with my husband and I admit we are a bit competitive. Through the years we (maybe I should say I) have learned to be “nicely competitive”. I think you know what I’m saying. I love cheering others on and it’s okay if they do better than I do. When playing a game don’t you play to win? You should. What that means to me is that I do my best…not “I will win at any cost” (you know …cheating…don’t we all dislike cheaters?)
We get our shoes, pick out a bowling ball. That sometimes is the hardest part of bowling, finding a ball that fits you. Finger holes aren’t spaced right, weight is too light, or too heavy, you may not like the color (but that’s the least of my issue…I like all the colors).
We start bowling. My husband always asks if I want to go first. I said “yes” this time. If he went first, I would know what score I would have to beat to win. I was NOT EVEN THNKING LIKE THAT. I believe that was the first reason I was able to bowl as good as I did. My heart and mind was not focused on what he was going to bowl or if I was even going to win or lose. I was focused on the right things without even knowing it. Love when that happens.
I start bowing. Strike! Okay. My body was very calm, very relaxed. There were no bowlers to my right or left for part of that first game. Edward bowled, as I waited my turn. I was so relaxed, not thinking of anything. I walked up to the lane, not laser focused on the pins. I knew where they were. It’s not like the 10 pins are in a different place on the first frame of every frame. God’s consistent like those 10 pins….always there ready for whatever we bring. Many times we miss the mark and need to trust God to do something with an ugly split in our life. Oh I could get those wide splits if I had at least 2 tries. Thank God he gives us more “tries”.
I got up, my head was empty of “stuff”. I wasn’t thinking about clients, my parents, my children, the weather…NOTHING. I wasn’t thinking about ANYTHING as I walked up the lane to release the ball towards those pins. My body was really at rest. When I didn’t get a strike, I was picking up those spares like no bodies business. I would calmly walk back to the scoring table and look at Edwards face. He was happy for me. I wanted him to do as good as I was doing. I really did.
We finished the game and in the past my 2nd game was always better. I started to think about that. Wow if I just got 192, I just may be able to hit that 200 today. I started THINKING. I let a lot of things get into my head, which then caused my body to react. People started bowling next to us about half way into our first game. At the start of the second game, I allowed them to become a distraction. This was on me. They were not rude or loud. They were minding their own business.
As I walked up to the pins, the second game, my body was not relaxed. I noticed the changes after the 3rd frame. I was trying harder and doing worse. I couldn’t get a strike like I did the previous game. I started thinking that I am losing this 2nd game as Edward was doing better than the first game. About the 7th frame I said “we are going by total pins to see who wins”. Wow, I really said that? He smiled. I was joking and thought it’s okay if I win one and he wins one. I lost my relaxed, focus state I had in my first game. Totally gone.
Do you get what I’m saying? I’ll just call it my 192 peace time. I’m so thankful I was able to experience and be aware of what was going on in my mind and body that day. It really allows me to see no matter what I’m doing to pay attention to what I let in my mind and how much it affects my body. I thank God for feelings, emotions, and a brain to think with. I’m most grateful for the Holy Spirit and His presence to guide and lead us.
It's funny how I really want to go bowling more. They have great prices for seniors on Friday mornings. ( I’ll proudly show them my ID and take all the discounts I can…except they don’t seem to need proof , whatever!). I want to do better. I want to hit at least 200. I find the more I’m in Gods Word, the more I want to do better as well. The more I want to be in it.
How about you? What are things you
want more of? May we all desire more of what God, our heavenly Father desires
for us. Remember Psalm 4:25-27 as you seek your desires from the Lord.
Now go get those strikes! May God be glorified in our “strikes” and show up in our “splits”
