In my first year of college, I had a friend who was very athletic and had signed up for a racquetball class . We always enjoyed doing activities together, so I thought I would enjoy the class and got to hang out with my friend–so I joined the class. Little did I know…it would soon become my penchant – my new passion! I played a ridiculous amount of r-ball and eventually got good enough to beat our instructor. Once the semester was over, I started joining any competition I could and I began to practice even more…a lot! I played 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week, for over 2 years. One day, I was in the court warming up waiting to play my next opponent and I was on FIRE! (or at least in my head). I was making all these incredible shots and it just seemed like I couldn’t do anything wrong. My guy finally showed up and we began to play.
Suffice it to say – the game did NOT go as I thought it would! He ran my butt off! Almost the exact opposite of me in playing style, he was a strategic player as opposed to a monster-smashing power-player. He gently placed each shot so the ball bounced high and I had to run after each hit. The game was over and I was exhausted. After thanking this guy for wiping the court with me…I exited the court and saw that my friend had watched the whole game through the Plexiglas rear wall. “Wow, that was tough,” I said. “I couldn’t make any of my usual shots.” She looked at me and said, “The shots were all there, but you didn’t take them. You have to make the shots happen that you want.” Wow. I wasn’t sure if I felt enlightened or offended by her response.
But I thought about it for a long time and it just makes sense. I was placing all my shots during my warm-up, and I had a pretty good idea of what to expect when the ball bounced. (A large part of racquetball is knowing how the ball is going to bounce) So I basically was setting myself up for success, which allowed me to perform at a higher level. But when I was playing with another player, I was responding (mostly poorly) to his shots and had no idea what to expect from shot-to-shot. My friend was saying that basically I allowed him to drive the game–and the shots. I was on the defensive the whole time.
If we sit around and wait for shots to line-up for us, we may allow many opportunities to simply pass us by. Instead, we need to put ourselves in the driver’s seat and instead of reacting to situations, being on the offensive. This doesn’t mean to “offend”, but rather to be on the causation side of situations as opposed to the responsive side. Sometimes, easy things just come our way. We’re truly blessed to have those convenient times, but during the in-between times, we can still be successful and create our own “shots.”
This doesn’t require enormous amounts of energy or effort. Sometimes it simply means opening our eyes to other opportunities that exist although they seem “smaller” or less significant. In any case, size doesn’t change them from being opportunities. Try to see how many ways you can apply this principle. Maybe a promotion at work? A different position? New investment strategies? There are many ways to excel by making our own shots.
How many times do you say “Gee, I’d love to help someone, bless someone, do something for someone…but I don’t see anyone, and I don’t have time either?” We’re all busy in our lives and daily routines, and finding these situations can seem daunting at the least.
Imagine if someone handed you a $20 bill and told you to give it to someone who really needed it. Aside from saying ” I need it” and stuffing the bill in your own pocket, you might be tempted to look on street-corners or workers out in the heat or cold and give it to them. After all, their needs are obvious and sometimes even advertised. But what about going to a grocery store, or a park or the post office and looking for people who have needs? The “shots” are all there, but you have to make them. And more importantly, you have to take them.
I believe It is a mindset that we need to adopt. If you are EXPECTING to find something, you will find it. If you are LOOKING for something, it will be there.
Luke 11 is a recognized scripture but let’s look at it with this new attitude in mind..
Luke 11:9-13 New International Version (NIV)
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
To some people, it may seem like these verses are just saying to perform an action, and you will get a result. For a long time, I only saw the scripture at a face-value. I believe the more important issue here is that we adopt a attitude…or a “heart” for God’s will. At the core of the matter, God wants us to have a heart for Him in everything we do – even caring about other people. This isn’t in order to get a blessing or a result, but rather that God will take care of us if our heart is on HIM and thinking about others and loving them instead of being lost in our self-absorbed selves.
If you think that people will come to you with legitimate needs and tell you what they need, how much they need and when they need it…you are setting yourself up for disappointment and likely, abuse. What about the single mom with three kids who can’t afford grocery items? Or an elderly person who is now a widow? Or the person who has a hard time loading shopping bags? There is a multitude of situations where you can make lasting differences in people’s lives, but they are not all out there advertising their needs or boisterously asking for help. You might have to spend some time looking and seeking.
If you are looking to improve your position, your opportunities or your advantage – don’t just wait for the shots.
MAKE the shots.
Great lesson! Gotta go make a shot! Thanks!!