Thursday, July 31, 2008
Snap Out!
Anyone who follows tennis would notice that Roger Federer is currently struggling. His last demise came in Cincinnati Masters when he lost to a relatively mediocre professional named Ivo Karlovic.
Federer has been dominant in men's tennis for years. He is the obvious heir to Pete Sampras, another dominant player before Federer's era. Until recently, it is very clear that sooner or later, he will break every record that Sampras has ever made.
The prediction is not that clear anymore now.
Recently, every time I saw Federer played, there was something different. The swagger wasn't there, the enjoyment wasn't there, his movement, and his strategy were all different. It was as if I were watching a different player altogether.
I would go out on a limb here and guess that it came down to one factor: CONFIDENCE. When the losses began to mount this year, somehow Federer lost something important. Something that was unseen and can't be taught by anyone. He lost his confidence that he can beat just any tennis player on this earth on any given day.
His technique is still exquisite. I am still jealous of his beautiful strokes, his smooth movement, footwork, and balance. In short, he is still a beautiful player to watch.
However, when this one factor is missing, or even decreasing, suddenly everything become different. On important points, you suddenly has doubt whether your tactics will still work. You has doubts on where to serve, and how to follow up on your serve, whether you want to pounce on your opponent's backhand just as you have done so many times before, or whether you want to give him/her a surprise by going to the forehand, et cetera, et cetera.
Those doubts really can kill you as a player. And it is similar to our faith in God. Losing faith can kill us spiritually.
When we are happy and our faith is strong, it is as if we can do no wrong. We are so sure that God is with us no matter what. But what if when we have crisis in our faith?
Suddenly we can't do anything right. We are so afraid to move on into anything. Every choice that goes through our head seems irrational. We want to listen to God, but we just can't.... we lost our connection....
I hope Federer will snap out of his slump. And I surely hope if you are currently in crisis of faith, you will also snap out of it soon. I know. It is exhausting to be in it.
The only thing that we can do when we are in our slump was just to plod on. We have to be firm in our belief that our Omnipotent Father is with us no matter what. Believe me, if Federer can get out of his slump, he will be an even stronger player (scary thought), and so also, if we can get out of our slump, we will get out of it stronger than ever for our Father "will not let you be tried beyond your strength" (1Cor 10:13)
Federer has been dominant in men's tennis for years. He is the obvious heir to Pete Sampras, another dominant player before Federer's era. Until recently, it is very clear that sooner or later, he will break every record that Sampras has ever made.
The prediction is not that clear anymore now.
Recently, every time I saw Federer played, there was something different. The swagger wasn't there, the enjoyment wasn't there, his movement, and his strategy were all different. It was as if I were watching a different player altogether.
I would go out on a limb here and guess that it came down to one factor: CONFIDENCE. When the losses began to mount this year, somehow Federer lost something important. Something that was unseen and can't be taught by anyone. He lost his confidence that he can beat just any tennis player on this earth on any given day.
His technique is still exquisite. I am still jealous of his beautiful strokes, his smooth movement, footwork, and balance. In short, he is still a beautiful player to watch.
However, when this one factor is missing, or even decreasing, suddenly everything become different. On important points, you suddenly has doubt whether your tactics will still work. You has doubts on where to serve, and how to follow up on your serve, whether you want to pounce on your opponent's backhand just as you have done so many times before, or whether you want to give him/her a surprise by going to the forehand, et cetera, et cetera.
Those doubts really can kill you as a player. And it is similar to our faith in God. Losing faith can kill us spiritually.
When we are happy and our faith is strong, it is as if we can do no wrong. We are so sure that God is with us no matter what. But what if when we have crisis in our faith?
Suddenly we can't do anything right. We are so afraid to move on into anything. Every choice that goes through our head seems irrational. We want to listen to God, but we just can't.... we lost our connection....
I hope Federer will snap out of his slump. And I surely hope if you are currently in crisis of faith, you will also snap out of it soon. I know. It is exhausting to be in it.
The only thing that we can do when we are in our slump was just to plod on. We have to be firm in our belief that our Omnipotent Father is with us no matter what. Believe me, if Federer can get out of his slump, he will be an even stronger player (scary thought), and so also, if we can get out of our slump, we will get out of it stronger than ever for our Father "will not let you be tried beyond your strength" (1Cor 10:13)
# posted by indra : 2:49 PM
