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.
No comments:
Post a Comment