Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
A Possibly Terrible Life Lesson from Bowling
My wife and I went bowling with some friends last weekend. A lot of people don't know that's something I love to do. Even fewer know it's something I'm good at.
That's because I haven't been good at it in a while.
I got a little spoiled as a missionary in Texas, when a member of my church happened to own a bowling alley and let us play for free every week. By the time I left, I could consistently bowl a 200+ game. I felt like a king on the lanes.
But things happen. Like life. And kids. And bills.
So my wife and I go maybe once a year now. And we always have a great time.
But man, am I bad at bowling.
Here's the thing about bowling, though: the more you strike, the less you actually get to play. If you really want to get your money's worth, you've got to miss the pins.
For the uninitiated (what do you even do with your life?), in bowling you get to throw the ball twice every time it's your turn. But if you bowl a strike--knock down all the pins in one throw--your turn is over. You don't get a second throw.
Sure, you end up with a higher score and everyone thinks you're cool. But dang it, I didn't pay six US dollars to bowl just half my turns.
Such is life.
We all want to do our best--we all want to bowl a strike, so to speak--but if we get too caught up in that perfect score, we miss part of the point of being here. We miss a lot of the game.
I'm not saying to go out and live recklessly. No one likes bowling gutter balls.
What I am saying is to embrace the messiness of life. Learn from your mistakes, and don't be afraid to make them. Enjoy life as a process, not as a showroom.
In short, live.
I've missed plenty of bowling pins in life. I've made poor decisions, gotten hurt, or just plain made things harder on myself more times than I care to admit.
But it's been an interesting journey, full of scenic routes and detours. I've got stories to tell. And I'm more proud of that than if I'd bowled a perfect game.
The pins are up. I hope you'll cheer when only one falls down.
That's because I haven't been good at it in a while.
I got a little spoiled as a missionary in Texas, when a member of my church happened to own a bowling alley and let us play for free every week. By the time I left, I could consistently bowl a 200+ game. I felt like a king on the lanes.
 |
| Move over, Homer Simpson. Image credit: GoBowling on Pinterest |
But things happen. Like life. And kids. And bills.
So my wife and I go maybe once a year now. And we always have a great time.
But man, am I bad at bowling.
Here's the thing about bowling, though: the more you strike, the less you actually get to play. If you really want to get your money's worth, you've got to miss the pins.
 |
| Image credit: QuickMeme |
For the uninitiated (what do you even do with your life?), in bowling you get to throw the ball twice every time it's your turn. But if you bowl a strike--knock down all the pins in one throw--your turn is over. You don't get a second throw.
Sure, you end up with a higher score and everyone thinks you're cool. But dang it, I didn't pay six US dollars to bowl just half my turns.
Such is life.
We all want to do our best--we all want to bowl a strike, so to speak--but if we get too caught up in that perfect score, we miss part of the point of being here. We miss a lot of the game.
I'm not saying to go out and live recklessly. No one likes bowling gutter balls.
 |
| What are you even doing? Image credit: Wormhole Riders |
What I am saying is to embrace the messiness of life. Learn from your mistakes, and don't be afraid to make them. Enjoy life as a process, not as a showroom.
In short, live.
I've missed plenty of bowling pins in life. I've made poor decisions, gotten hurt, or just plain made things harder on myself more times than I care to admit.
But it's been an interesting journey, full of scenic routes and detours. I've got stories to tell. And I'm more proud of that than if I'd bowled a perfect game.
The pins are up. I hope you'll cheer when only one falls down.
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Warped Plastic #7
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