Backside Backhand

or, to be more optimistic:

"I come, that you might have Life, and Life more Abundantly."

 Life, as it currently is, is very much similar to the progress of my backhand.  Some days it's awesome, on other days it suffers severe psycho motor sparsticism.

Strangely enough, despite the flux and wane of emotions, I do know that it is improving.

It, being the shot
---learnt a fresh idea about the backhand from a new coach who has joined our group.  When I hit my backhand, I prepare with my chin touching my racquet arm, and after follow through/end of shot, my chin should be touching the other arm

and life in general
---perhaps not the circumstances per se (am running flat out of money), but definitely my view to them (seeing God as the source of my providence, and knowing that things will be okay).

All too often, I still fall prey to worry and anxiety.  My finances are waning (I have about EUR700 left in my bank account), and the initial understanding I had with the Academy to have a left over salary of EUR300/month for the Residence work I do, has "turned" into money that automatically pays for my tennis fees.  Subtitles: out goes the active income.

In many respects, I feel like a banglah---salary, benefits and all.  It disturbs me even more knowing that I try so hard as a Singaporean athlete, but policy makers (unknowingly?) opt instead, on spending millions on a YOG event that stirs no public pride.  Sometimes when I focus on this, I feel disappointment, frustration and a genuine sense of helplessness.

But in the thick of this, thank God for God.  He has continued to assure me through John 10:10 that despite it all, I will be fine.

"I come, that you might have life, and life more abundantly."

"I come"---Not that I go.  Or that I try.  The pretext of Jesus saying that He comes, is that I am standing still, or in a moment of stasis.  Yes, I could be moving too, but the focus is on Him as the enacting one.

"that you might"---In order.  So as to.  For a specific purpose.  Jesus is saying that He comes with a particular end in mind.  And what is that end?

"have life"---Stop and think a while. What does it mean to you to have life?  What is real life?  The rest of the verse seems to push the reader to that contemplation:

"and life more"---So often we ask or wish ourselves to live life like someone else does--because in our eyes, they have more of life than we do.  But the Lord is saying that when you let Him come, you live that exact life that is so much more...

"Abundantly."---an incredible word that we too often forgo.  I don't even think that I understand the word.  My life sometimes seems surrounded by so much lack and limitation.  But perhaps this is also where the greener-grass theory can kick in.  A more abundant life sounds good.  Why not take Him at His word.

He's either telling the truth, or posing as the world's biggest liar.  But while I contemplate this, I'm going to take You at Your word.  You say You'll come.  So come Lord, come!