The annual ECBC volleyball tournament is coming up right around the corner. And every year the complications that comes with it increases.
It has evolved into a game of tension and frustration. Not to mention competitiveness and comparison between the different participating fellowships (and the people in them). And talk about ex(/in)clusiveness on the team rosters! It raised so many concerns and issues within the fellowship…
I think we pretty much lost the meaning of this tournament. When I first participated, I just played. I didn’t know why we had a volleyball tournament every year and I didn’t think that there was more to it than just several intense games of volleyball. After 3 years of playing in the tournament, I have an inkling of its goals. But still, I really don’t know what this tourney is trying to achieve. Yet, I still participate. Why? ‘Cuz every team needs at least 2 girls. (Girls who can play & wants to play v-ball are such a rarity)
Perhaps it is time that I take some time to rethink my involvement. Unless the goals (what the tournament is trying to achieve) are made clear, I don’t think anyone should play.
What, exactly, are we playing for?
-w i gg l e R o 0 O m-
(This is just so typical… we do things in the heat of the moment and lose sight of what we originally wanted to see or set out to accomplish. Then comes the problem of communicating this “vision” or “goal” across to all those involved.)
I’ve came to know how difficult it is to gather brothers and sisters in a fellowship as 1. Not going ahead to blame it on any individual since that is not warranted; however, each and everyone should take a very close look at the true PURPOSE of the games.
Are we trying to find the champ? Looking for the MVP? Fighting for bragging rights? Or share the goodness of sports with friends and family within our own fellowship as well as spend precious moments with people in various fellowships?
In return, it is time to ask “What would Jesus want to see?”
To me, I have a clear vision of what sports bring to the everyday life. The joy that comes as a result of it, the teamwork, and the success of not only a mere win but a sense of accomplishment of playing as a team is what I cherish. Hoping to be more articulate and more well-spoken; however, that would be acting out of my wiggleRo0Om. (I’m a good listener, a good follower, patient person and tries to learn from listening to others)
Although there is still much work to be done to bring back the true PURPOSE of the V-ball games, it feels like the tension and frustration is easing in 2008. What I can share is that I sensed some important turnarounds happen.
The angst, the fierce competitiveness and the unwanted curses between teammates have faded away. Yes, for some, winning remains the objective for volleyball, but the girls and guys are more respectful to themselves, to others and it makes the atmosphere easier to engage. The culture is changing for the better.
Sorry to all the younger kids looking up who are still in elementary schools and highschools. What you’ve saw in the past few years is not the example to follow. Ultimately, sorry God for all the fuss that we have made it. Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts.
Being a participant to a certain extent in each year’s event, I would love to see the tournament continue to grow. The fellowship, I included, needs to take more ownership in what goals we want to set before physically putting that finger on the striped leather sphere.
Prayer is so, so important. We should continue to build somewhere, and this is a good place to start. The harmony should be a priority near the top of the list if we want to honour our Heavenly Father.
Thanks for bringing this up, because I share the same hardship. We should persevere and push towards the goal in Christ…this time, all together.