Ready, Set, Bowl!

This afternoon I went bowling with the youth group. It was fun watching each kid approach the game in a different way. Some were competitive and wanted to be in first place. Others just willy-nilly threw the ball hoping for the best. Many people go through life emulating one of these strategies.  There is so much we can learn from bowling.

I think friends are a lot like bumper bowling. When life takes a curve and feels like it's headed for the gutter, we can count on our friends to help guide us back on the straight and narrow. We always need to be focused on Christ, the center pin. That's why it's so important to choose the right friends.

Sometimes when you're bowling, the ball accidentally jumps out of your lane, goes over in the lane beside you, and gets stuck. That's when the man in charge has to step in and get the ball back into the game for you. When unexpected life events take us down a path we did not see coming, God is there for us. If we trust Him, He will set our feet back on the right path.

Other times, like a bowling ball heading straight down the center of the lane, life rolls along smoothly and we get a strike. This, my friend, is cause for a celebration.  When life goes well, we should dance, cheer, and thank God for our successes.

Regardless of their score, do you know what all those crazy kids had in common? They were all happy and having a great time. They danced, they high-fived, they giggled and they cheered. What if, regardless of where our ball is rolling, we all approached life in a positive, encouraging way?  Then when asked, "Who won?" we could answer like one of the kids and say,"We were all winners!" And that, my friends, is a good day!