On MLK Day we took some of our youth group bowling (many grateful parents).  Some could bowl pretty well, others not so well, but we all had a BALL–  doing our best, encouraging and cheering each other on, laughing, and stuffing our faces with pizza 🙂

I also noticed some interesting phenomena during our three games (part of the deal):

First—At the very beginning, none of us were “living up to our potential”, and the gutters seemed to be magnetic where the balls on lanes were concerned.  But no one gave up.

Second—As a result, most of us got better as the games went on.  Those that took the advice of the more experienced, better bowlers, really improved—the gutters lost their magnetic power, and novices began to get strikes and spares. The veteran bowlers got warmed up and found our stride.  We were all on a roll!

Third—Everyone did better when we used a ball that fit each of us best in weight and hole-size.  Not  the ones that fit other people, no matter how good they looked when they used them.

Fourth— For me, both my first two games started out below average, but something “clicked” and I ended up above my “normal”.  The third game I finally continued doing what worked, right from the beginning, so it became my best game.

Fifth—  By the last half of the third game, some of the youth got tired and/or discouraged, lost interest, and quit playing.

Lessons learned from these phenomena:

First—No matter how hard things are or how much you fail at first, don’t give up!  Don’t give up on yourself.  Don’t give up on the process.  Don’t give up on the goal.  As Henry Ford put it, “Failure is…the opportunity to begin again… more intelligently.”  And we’ll hopefully continue more intelligently as well!

Second—  As in bowling, our lives, character, and competence will improve if we remain humble and teachable enough to learn from the Lord and others.  Not giving up keeps us on the road to success.  Seeking and receiving truth and wise instruction gives us wheels and fuel on that road.  Practice, living it out, gets us to our destination.

Third—What works for someone else may not work for us.  Just as each of us have been uniquely designed by God, He designs gifts, abilities, and ways of doing things that are custom-made to fit us.  Some of these may overlap with others, but will never be completely the same, because they aren’t us, and we’re not them.  That’s why serious bowlers get custom-made balls that fit their hand, strength, and style.

It’s also why David refused to use King Saul’s armor when he went up against Goliath, even though Saul offered it.  Because when David tried it on, it didn’t fit—it was too big, clunky, and made him clumsy.  So he told the king, “I cannot go in these… I’m not used to them.” He  took off the armor and used what fit him– his own slingshot and stones.  That worked.  The giant went down. (1 Sam. 17:32-40)

Fourth— When mastering anything there’s always a learning curve.  And often, just when we think we’ve “got it down”, we find ourselves needing to relearn or readjust something to get it right again.  As long as we keep learning and adjusting, the time will come when we can get it consistently—like my third game in bowling!

Fifth— Keep at it. What if farmers decide their work is too hard or “nothing is going to come up anyway, so why try?”  No harvest.  Nothing to eat.  Yet the Lord has promised, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up.” (Gal. 6:9)

The main take-away:  It’s not how we start, but how we finish, that counts.  Even the worst start can be redeemed and make us win at life, as long as we follow good guidance, face forward, and keep pressing on toward the goal (Phil. 3:12-14).

If we start well, that’s even more reason to continue well.

Keep singing your life-song.  With the Lord’s help, we will all end on a good note!