Don't Throw Your Paddle

I could never play ping pong professionally, nor did I ever have a desire to play at that level.  My greatest fear was a ball smacking me at 70 miles per hour.  (Some of you know what I am talking about.)  I played fast-pitch softball and that was enough for me.

While I didn't compete professionally in ping pong, I did play enough in the "amateurs"(garages and backyards) to know that it takes two people to play a game.  Even if one person is a noticeably stronger player than the other, the game requires that two people put motion behind paddles in order to get the ball across the table in a somewhat skilled fashion.  (For some of us, just getting it across the table at all is our "skilled fashion" and we're fine with that.)  The rest of us bragged about being on some Junior League.

Regardless of whether or not you played, most people have the common knowledge that it takes two people to play the game. 

Imagine enjoying a good, competitive game of ping pong with a new friend.  All of the sudden your opponent tosses his paddle at you and shouts,'This isn't right, man!  I'm a better player than you!  I practiced more than you!  I should be winning!"

Not quite sure what to say, as you are shocked by the behavior - and rubbing your head from the paddle mark - you stand and search for what to say.  Certainly not, "Forgive me."

But this is what has happened and is continued to be allowed in society as acceptable behavior towards one another.  Why?  
"He was just being real."  

I disagree.  He was actually not using self control (lost his temper - in this situation) and acting selfishly.  He then took it out on someone and in more and more cases, this is becoming acceptable behavior to where the person being hurt/abused is the one being asked to apologize.   Does that make sense to anyone?  It's a simple case of cause and effect where somehow the roles have been getting reversed; however, selfishness and hatred has been trying "to win out" over love and respect.

The lie is that if you are losing or it appears things are falling from you grip, you need to "take charge" and "dominate"; show everybody "what's up" or that "you are it" by shoving people around and demonstrating your power!  The truth is that the more you have to show your power and give in to the pressure, it is proving you have no power at all.  Bullies are some of the saddest people because they feel like nobodies; they pick on people in an attempt to feel important.

I'm not saying if you lose your temper you're a loser.  We all blow our tops sometimes.  But if you are regularly putting the blame on something or someone else and not taking responsibility for yourself - and a temper - you will continually be blowing up yourself, others, and situations around you.  And you will constantly wonder why no one will want to play ping pong with you.

No one wants to play with someone who keeps throwing the paddle at them.  

"The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out." -Proverbs 17:14