Love on a Tennis Court
What we believe about God should matter in our everyday lives. It does. In numerous ways, mostly without us even being aware of it, our faith plays a role in the decisions we make and in how we respond to people and situations. It is a good think to sometimes consciously ask yourself what relevant and valid input your faith has to give in any given situation. Yesterday, I got to do just that…
You see, me and my son Steph started to play tennis almost every day during lockdown. I think for himself and me, lockdown will be something that we will forever associate with vigorous tennis games. There are two courts just up the street from us. For a long time, we could basically go to these courts any time, find an open one and play as long as we like. But many other people also discovered tennis during this time and with line-ups forming at courts, the city had to restrict games to 30 minutes, if somebody else wants to play. It isn’t really possible to play a proper tennis game in 30 minutes and very irritating to have to drop a game in the middle of nowhere after 30 minutes. As more and more people play tennis, we encountered this situation more and more.
Then on Saturday, we went for a hike and noticed that the South Surrey Recreation facilities has many tennis courts. My daughter by this time, also got her interest in tennis kindled and my wife was eager to teach her, so we were four people wanting to play. The abundance of courts tucked away out of sight seem to be the perfect solution and so we plotted to go there the next day after church. We were all excited at the prospect of a great long game of tennis.
When we got to the courts, we saw a crowd of tennis players and pickle ball players that utilize the same courts, somehow got the same idea. At the courts closest to us there was a couple in their fifties, playing a leisurely game. Next to them there was a girl who played beautiful tennis. She was young and attractive and had two coaches with a basket full of balls throwing and hitting balls at her from all angles, ninety five percent of which she returned in spectacular fashion. Poetry in motion. It is always nice to watch someone doing something you love well.
We timed our watches and waited 30 minutes. It gave me time to think what a good ethical and Christian response would be to this situation. My kids are eager to learn and play. The coaching tennis wonder and her entourage was there before the couple but since we are not allowed to play doubles, we had a right to both courts after 30 minutes.
30 minutes passed. Was it right of me to interrupt a game of a senior couple and a coaching session of someone much more talented than me and my family combined? I would not have liked this if I was in either of their shoes. Should I call it a day and, in this way, turn the other cheek and put others above myself? Is it right to order a person with so much talent, this girl off the court to learn my daughter tennis 101?
But then I thought. If we only let the talented people get all the time on the courts, how would little girls ever take this tennis genius’s place one day? If there are rules, shouldn’t they be adhered to by all? Wouldn’t that be the best win/win at this time? I judged it would and walked up to the coaching trio. They told me they were coaching and needed at least 40 more minutes. I told them that the rules should apply to everybody as gently and kindly but also as affirming as I could. They obliged, not happily but reasonably well. So did the couple in their fifties. We finished our 30 minutes, still wanting to play more but got off without being asked as there were people waiting.
On our way back we stopped at another set of courts off 152nd avenue. Both were also occupied. We again set our watches and waited. There were two Chinese girls playing on one court and two males in their twenties playing on the other. Again, both were better players than us, but I was a bit more sure of the rules and in my belief that they are there for the benefit of everybody. So, after 30 minutes we asked the Chinese girls to have the court. They claimed they had five more minutes as they timed our arrival. I was glad to give it to them. The men were less compliant. The one told me that because we are a family, we are not allowed to take two courts. That rule wasn’t one the board outside and again, since doubles are prohibited it would amount to discrimination to people who are family if applied. I pointed this out to him, upon which he grumbled something. He then told me that the protocol is to request the court in 30 minutes as soon as you arrive. With this part I agreed and told him that I will definitely do that next time and that I didn’t because I assumed it was a given because we arrived with our rackets and everything and there wasn’t anybody else leaving. Eventually they obliged and miraculously nobody else showed up so that we could play our hearts out.
Reflecting on my conduct and decisions, my conscience is clear. One earlier version of me would use intimidation and power to get what I want. Another earlier version, a holier-than-thou version of me would have left depriving me and my family to something we can share with others. Also, allowing the others to live under the illusion that the rules does not apply to them. Any form of injustice and unfairness makes my blood boil easily but according to my wife I behaved and stated my case with composure. I thought of the less powerful (even though I must admit its much easier when they happen to be your own flesh and blood).
Do you agree that I responded in a Christlike way? Did I miss something in my decision-making process? What would you have done in a similar scenario? What conflicts do you feel compelled not to side step?
Gabriel J Snyman
April 27th 2020