Even Losing Seasons Are Perfect

Today’s reading: John 20:1-10

My tennis team’s season ended last night, and I took yet another loss. After the matches, my teammates approached me with the usual question that I always dread hearing:  “So, how’d you do?”

Last night I just smiled and replied, “Well, I had a perfect season.”

I did not win a match all season (heck, I didn’t even win a set). And I am probably now at risk of losing a level in my United States Tennis Association ranking.

As I say, I smiled.

But it’s been frustrating nevertheless.

I played as well as I know how to play every week. I spent a lot of time practicing in between matches — my backhand and my serve have improved tremendously in the last two months.

Yet my opponents just crushed me every week.

And after each loss, I would tell my friends, “There is no reason why I shouldn’t have beat that guy! Absolutely no reason!”

There were a couple of times when I decided that my losing had to be mostly a mental problem, and, to motivate myself,  I guaranteed my team that I would win.

If you happen to run across on Facebook some pictures of me in a Speedo, you now know why. (Please rest assured, however, that those pictures have been doctored. I have never owned a Speedo and I have certainly never worn one. Nor would I ever agree to wear one for a photo for anything less than, say, $30,000.)

Alas, today’s reading makes me realize this frustrating season was perfect after all.

If the horrors of Jesus’s Crucifixion can end with something so glorious as the Resurrection, then there is certainly plenty of hope for my tennis game.  All that’s required of me is to keep trying, to never loose faith.

Not everyone on the team went winless as I did, but our team record was 0-8 for the year. We definitely won’t be one of the favorites to advance to the sectional tournament when another season begins in the fall. (Especially if I remain as the team’s top singles player. Ha!)

Yet, these guys have become a great bunch new friends, and all of our games have improved (some dramatically) as a result of our raucous, trash-talking “practice” sessions.  I’m looking forward to a summer of hanging out on the courts for more practice with these guys, and I’m thinking we can advance to sectionals next time after all.

In fact, I think the sports world should get ready to start hearing about The Aguilas, the soon-to-be greatest dynasty in the history of amateur team tennis. (How’s that for trash talkin’!)

Thanks be to God for eternal hope. May I (and we) remember that all of our seasons are always perfect.