Twice this week, I have benefited from instruction. Two of my favorite hobbies/passions are volleyball and acting, and I spend a considerable amount of time doing both. I am currently playing in two volleyball leagues and usually play at open gyms an additional once or twice a week. Although I have been playing for some time now and have a good set of skills, I've been inconsistent in my spiking.
Last week, I was asked to sub for a volleyball team, and while I played decently, my spikes were definitely "off"- the majority of them landing out-of-bounds, which obviously didn't help the team's efforts to win. When I played at an open gym the next night, I was having the same problem and started to get frustrated. "What am I doing wrong?" I muttered after another spiking error. A guy named Mike heard me, and after the next play, suggested that I try to "reach" for the ball instead of waiting for it to drop to the place where I'd normally contact it. I tried it and resulted in hitting the ball into the net. Mike encouraged me by saying it was still a better swing than what I had been doing. After a few more times, I started to get the timing and wrist snap needed and my spiking consistency improved. I thanked Mike for the tip and looked forward to the next league game to test out my improved skill.
Similarly, in my acting ventures, I was invited yesterday to an on-camera workshop by an acting coach who enjoyed my work in a previous acting project. I, along with a few other actors, met at the coach's home and had a great time learning tools and techniques from her that would improve our acting skills. I was so thankful for the instruction and am excited about using my newfound knowledge in my future acting gigs!
In both situations, I was given instruction by people more knowledgeable and experienced than I was. I was able to (happily) receive their advice because I wanted to learn. I wanted to improve. Both instructors gave freely out of their kindness, and I accepted and will benefit from their wisdom. I suppose it would have been just as easy to not accept their advice out of pride, but I have learned that humility is the way to go in life. Christ taught this and exhibited it Himself.
In one of his letters, the Apostle Paul wrote:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father". (Philippians 2:5-11).
Although volleyball and acting are two of my great passions, the one that supercedes them both is my relationship with God. I've been devoting more time in reading his Word lately, and that is the HIGHEST instruction of all. It is a blessing and joy to be able to participate in my hobbies, but it is a result/overflow of God delighting in providing these things for me. He loves me infinitely beyond what I know or deserve. I want to love Him back as my priority in life, and to receive His instruction so I can live a life that honors and pleases Him.
"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD". (Proverbs 16:20)
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