Reflections 2
Play Later Lah!
Del;ayed Gratification … by Lawrence Ko
Michael Jordan has been a unique phenomenon in basketball, carving for himself a name in the NBA hall of fame, from the most successful rookie to the most successful pro, leading the Chicago Bulls from one championship to another. In analysing Jordan’s success, his biographer has noted that besides his God-given natural talent, one of the telling secrets to his success is that he comes into the training an hour earlier than his team-mates, and stays back an hour after his team-mates have headed for the shower room.
Similarly, a local sports journalist covering the Singapore soccer scene has noted that while the rest of the national team begins training by jesting and playing around with the ball, Fandi Ahmad and Malek Awab, the two oldest members of the national team then, would begin by going on a ten-lap run on their own. It explains why Malek was undisputedly the fittest player then and why Fandi has enjoyed a distinguished career in football for so long.
What we can note from the above examples, despite possible hagiographical accounts, is that success in every arena comes not only with divine giftedness, but also with sheer hard work and disciplined living.
It is an adage that the skilled craftsman would find a beaten path towards his home, even though he may live smack in the middle of the forest. The wise sage in Old Testament times affirmed this, saying that the man who is skilled in his work will serve not before obscure men, but before kings. ( Proverbs 22 :29 )
In Singapore, as a friend once lamented, geuine artists who are dedicated to their art are really few and far between. Many local actors and actresses quickly trade in their transient role as celebrities for a few quick bucks,, unlike even the Hollywood celebrities who have at least paid their dues in learning their trade before earning a nomination, not to mention an Oscar award.
Work is inherently meaningful, especially for Christians who dispute the idea of life as a mere cyclical phenomenon to be tolerated. We need to dedicate ourselves to our work, developing a high level of proficiency and meaningfulness in our trade, whatever it may be.
As the saying goes, a diamond is a piece of coal that stayed on the job. May God mould us into beautiful diamonds no matter how black we might presently be.