I was actively involved in a new-found game - volleyball. That was 30 years ago. I remembered practicing almost every alternate day in school with some of my classmates. Religiously we would cup the ball into the air with both our hands as long as it would last. Some of us will set the ball into the air with our fingertips. Few of us would actually spike the ball over the net as we were small and the net was high. It came as a surprise when we were selected to represent the school for the tournament. We were too young and too amateur to have any winning plans charted out. You've guessed it. We won some and lose some games but the experience was great. Even in losing. All of us sensed a kind of unseen unity when we played as a group. There was no way we can foretell what kind of opponents we would be facing or what kind of skill set we were to possess to win the game. Because winning was not in our young mind. Playing was. For one thing, we were very sure, those who practiced religiously were able to respond to some unexpected challenges during the games. They became the "hero" of the day during some tournaments. Things just got together in a unique way as we stood together facing the opponents with no idea where and how the ball would land in our court. Somehow, someone in the group was able to get the ball, not every time, off the air, and the next one across the net to the opponent's court. Come to think of it, was it the preparation or the unseen teamwork led us to some victories? No one knows. But we can say that when we lost, we determined to train harder. I hope this can help us as we walk the Christian life. Learning to be the person God wants us to be. Facing challenges with unfailing perseverance and most importantly, enjoying the process of walking with the Lord. As individuals and as a team.