Game. Set. Match. And. Other Algorithmic Cheats.

There are no shortcuts.

The only way through, is through it.

Through what?

Life’s obstacle course.

Your choice.

Your mission.

Should you choose.

To accept:

DISCLAIMER:

[Next 1000written” words of an old fashioned duddy🤭]

Nothin “racy” going on here.

Thank you for spending a moment of your time, if you choose to turn and run.

Best wishes! Really!

Once upon a time🙂.

It happened.

What?

In the moment, unsure exactly.

However, for some strange and wonderful reason.

Did not overthink it.

With the ever present mindfulness of a top ten list of motivations and intentions.

Because.

That might require,

Overthinking.😳.

So.

I jumped. Into the pool they jumped.

It felt cool.

It felt refreshing.

Until something floated along that killed the moment.😡

And killed it, the mood, in an instant.

The lobs, the serves, the long lost glances.

The trigger.

What is or was needed in the moment was the steeliest of poker faces.To outsmart and intimidate the opponent.

On that other side of the net…….

Hoping to get “it” in the net of momentary annihilation.

First game.

Sweat.

Sweat and more sweat.

What was supposed to be or thought to be a piece of cake turned into a nightmare, re-curring themes and flashbacks.

Where does one put all of that?

Pockets?

Dumpster?

Envelope?

Trash?

Promotion?

Where does it go when it has no other place to go?

One of two places.

Outside.

Or.

Inside.

And both and neither can be a harbinger of devastation and destruction.

Makes no difference if it is for a second or a lifetime.

Some people have way too much confidence, baby.(u2)

And.

The rest of us plug along and muddle along wading and waiting.

Watching, too.

With desperate focus at our devices. In our own hands…. hoping beyond hope for the narrative to change. For “it” to “go away.”

When it does not.

We punt.

To the other guy.

To.

The other.

It was their fault, after all.

Possession, after all, is one tenths of the law, right?

Or is that so……yesterday?

We plot.

We plan.

We pray🙏🏻

Phew.

……thought we lost ya’

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Overcome a trial in the spirit of martyrdom is a lesson in humility. Performance in front of thousands.

Brave.

Courageous.

And all that stuff.

Because, in the end it does not even matter.

But it does.

To Him.

How you got there.

He is the ultimate examiner of all things conscience. Go ahead. Try and put one over on Him. And you will be sorry. He does not spare us from adversity. (pf) He does hope we figure it out. So we can deliver ourselves to Him fully loaded and ready for service.

He needs us at our best.

Game.

Set.

Match.

Forehand.

Backhand.

And lobs.

He asks us repeatedly for us to find the deep serenity of abandonment. In Him. Clinging to Him. Especially if and when we are overwhelmed by turmoil.

That is when we are tested.

The most.

God knows what and how much we can handle.

And. He is not afraid to show it. In us.

Through Him. With Him. In Him.

What is or can be our most difficult task.

He says.

”Bring it on”.

I am here for you always.

In our most difficult annd fear filled moments.

He is present.

Our most difficult times.

He is present.

There ain’t no mountain high enough.

Valley low enough.

No storm too scary.

Jesus rebukes.

The wind.

The rain.

And everything in between.

He prefers we humankind participants, well, participate in his holiness and goodness one way or another.

He is not picky😏.

As to how he gets us there, to Him.

He uses all and every tool at His disposal, until He knows,

We can handle it.

Game.

Set.

Match.

Makes no difference where you sit, if you prefer to stand for the cause of belief. Life is the ultimate obstacle course of slings and arrows, intimidation games and scare tactics.

Know where you stand.

In your space.

Stand where you stand.

In your space.

Know that adversity is the place to grow.

The court where we grow.

The field where we grow.

The course where we grow.

The battlefield where we grow.

Big. And. Strong.

Strong. And. Big.

One day.

Once upon a time.

We open our eyes and say,

”I got this.”

He put the bravest of fishermen to the test. At one point, their only choice may have been to simply, “jump in”. Instead they rode the waves and currents on a wing and a prayer.

Multiplied in a good and productive way.

And.

Lived to tell their story of His mercy another day.

His mercies are new everyday.

If you believe. In the long haul.

When and if you choose, to take your seat. Among the revealers, the cheers and the competition. The healthier competition involves a steely resolve to

Get it done.

The right way.

The best way.

Leave the out smarters to one another. Their tiny club is a small one, with small minds. Who wants that?

Not me.

I prefer to think

Big.

And.

Strong.

Strong.

And.

Big.

Today.

And.

Tomorrow.

So long as He is by my side. We can conquer anything and anyone. The big bugs. Small bugs.

Courage is the ability to carry on a resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed. The ability.

Ability.

Not deterred by danger or pain.

The hero and heroin of your own story. The volley of personal strength when all else fails. Negativity sells like hot cakes. Be strong. Be fearless. Do not be afraid. Be not afraid. Do not be scared by your enemies, because He is the one who marches with you. He won’t let you down. He won’t abandon you.

Game.

Set.

Match.

He is the ultimate treasure of a life well lived. He is our Shepherd. He reigns us in when we get on too quickly, too carelessly, too recklessly.

He reigns us in.

The ultimate treasure trove of Shepherd, Father, King.

He awaits in His kingdom for us.

To “get it.”

Get on with it.

Get over it(lk)

Game.

Set.

Match.

Wherever we sit.

He sits there, too.

He is there alway.