SERVING TO WIN!
written by the Team Rector, Revd. Gary Cregeen
At this time of year many people
are glued to the TV as yet another
exciting tennis match draws to a
nail biting finish. When you see the
players out on the court they make
it all look so easy, don’t they? The
precision serves, the thundering
volleys, the agility of their footwork.
Yet none of this ‘just happened’. It
is the result of many painstaking
hours of practice.
the information they can about the
game and study great players as
role models to improve their player
skills.
Just wearing the latest kit and
sporting an expensive tennis
racquet does not make a good
tennis player. If a player does not
put in long gruelling sessions
working at basic techniques, s/he
will never be able to produce the
magnificent volleys that cause the
crowd to gasp in amazement. The
superb play we love to watch is
born of blood, sweat and tears.
Having studied the theory and got
the equipment what does the
trainee tennis player do? Does he
or she stand on the sidelines
wearing all the correct gear and
saying: ‘Look what a good tennis
player I am’? No, he or she actually
has to walk out onto the court and
begin hitting the ball. The racquet
is not just an ornament - it is there
to be used.
For the Christian too there is an
ongoing training that involves
discipline and commitment. It is as
we learn to be faithful in the small
things that God equips us to move
on to bigger things in His service.
Just so with us. We cannot be a
bystander and think: ‘Well, I’ve got
a pretty good grasp of Christianity
now.’ We actually have to get out
there and begin putting it into
practice what we’ve learned there’s no retirement or ‘easing off’
in commitment and service to Jesus
Aspiring tennis players read up all
Christians also need to get to know
the ground rules of their faith by
diligently praying, reading the
Bible, and learning from the
inspiring example of great men and
women of God.