This would shock Chase, but one of my close friends is even more enthusiastic about pickleball than I am. We have been playing together since we found this glorious sport 3 years ago and she is ALL IN. Her competitive spirit propels her forward with passion and joy. It is one of my favorite things about her.
But when I recently found out she was taking lessons at the racquet club (with two other women I play with, no less), I had a panic moment. She consistently competes in a league and delights in games with advanced players, which my fear causes me to shirk from. “How will I be able to keep up?,” I wondered. “What if I get left in the dust because I’m just not skilled enough to compete anymore?”
This is a fairly constant refrain in my mind but this time I saw clearly that it would lead me to striving and rob me of joy, so I decided to challenge it. “What would happen if she gets so much better than me that I can’t compete with her anymore?” The answer wasn’t as terrible as I was expecting. She loves me and would still be willing to play with me. Besides, I could still play competitively with a dozen other pickleball friends. And if they all improved beyond my level, I could easily find others. It would really, truly be okay. After knocking the legs out from fear’s argument, I felt the Lord speak into my heart, “Can you cheer on her improvement?” My answer was an emphatic yes. And I began doing just that.
Her birthday landed on league day so a few friends and I went to watch the competition and join the celebration afterwards. This was not the first time I’d seen her play in this format, but this time was different from the others. Rather than seeing her through my own filter of fear and comparison, I watched with pure joy and admiration. Not only that, but I sensed God’s deep joy of being with her on the court and his delight in the way she comes alive under pressure. I could clearly see that he made her that way and he called it good.
It was such a transformative experience that I decided I want to cheer on everyone in my life, not only at pickleball, but at whatever it is they were made to do, even if it means that my abilities or achievements look lacking in comparison. Easier said than done, I’m guessing, but I’m sure going to try. It is just a far more enjoyable and exciting way to live.
The cherry on top came when I was playing with this friend and a few others last night. I played better than expected, which is always an enjoyable experience, albeit a fickle one, but that’s not what caused my soul to leap. The Lord spoke into my heart once again: “Can you cheer yourself on?” This was a completely new thought. It’s something I’ve never, ever done before. I paused for a moment, wondering if I could. A big smile rose, causing my eyes to crinkle up, and I thought, “Yeah! Let’s do this!”
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