Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live --not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
I don't remember the source but I remember reading the following quote. "Luck stands at the intersection of opportunity and preparedness." I don't believe in luck, so I prefer my own version. Success lives at the intersection of opportunity and preparedness.
Tennis presents short and long-term opportunities, and I am always amazed at how few of them are seized. There are short balls that players don't come in on. There are break, set and match points that are squandered. There are opportunities to practice with better players that are dismissed. There are lesson opportunities with great teachers that are overlooked. There are tickets to great tennis matches that are passed over. There are chances to meet influential people in the world of tennis that are bypassed. There are scholarship opportunities that are ignored. There are sponsorship opportunities that are passively not pursued. After the squanderings, dismissals, overlooking, bypassings, passivity, and nonchalance, people still wonder why they are not successful.
I am reminded of a story of a man who drowned in a flood. In the early stages of the flood the water had risen to the level of his front porch. A row boat came by and offered to rescue the man on the porch. The man on the porch said that he was sure the flood would recede and that if it didn't another boat would come by. In the middle stages of the flood the water had risen to the second story of the house. The man was out on a second story window ledge when a man driving a motor boat came by and offered to assist. The man dismissed the motor boat saying that he knew the flood would recede and that even if it didn't another boat would come by. Another hour passed and the flood water continued to rise. The man was now on the roof of his house. A helicopter flew over and offered to rescue the man. The man said that he knew the flood waters would recede and that even if they didn't someone would come to rescue him. The man drowned. The first person he saw in heaven was God. He asked God, "Why did You let me drown?" God simply said, "I sent two row boats and a helicopter."
Unfortunately the opportunities in life and tennis are not endless. A tennis match may swing on the results of just a few points. There may be only a couple of break chances in a match. Chances to practice with great players may come along only a few times. Lesson opportunities with great teachers may come along only a few times. Tickets to great matches may come along only a few times. The college coach may only be there to watch just a few times. Sponsorship opportunities may only present themselves in short seasons.
These opportunities are often the Lord reaching out to bless us. It grieves Him when we don't accept His blessings. That's why He encourages us to...
Make the most of every opportunity!
Prayer
Abba Father, please forgive me when I have squandered opportunities in tennis and life that You have presented. Please help me to prepare for, recognize, and seize the opportunities in tennis and life that You want to bless me with. Amen in the Name of Jesus
Drills
1. Short ball drill.
