"I delight in difficulties"

Now that an AIA Singapore national is here, I told myself I had to at least qualify for the masters of the youth category. The challenge was that I haven’t been bowling well since the day I got 2nd with an average of 198 in national age group earlier this June. I’ve been sick of all the challenges I’ve faced in bowling this year.

I haven’t been succeeding for very long, although there are times when I bowl really well in training. It’s just that when it comes close to competition, I lose everything. I always wonder, why is God doing this to me? Does He have a different purpose for me in this life? What does He want me to do if I have to give up bowling? And why did He get me involved in bowling in the first place for so many years?

Not only do I have to face so many challenges this year, but also my thumb injury came just at the right timing, which is during AIA. Thank God at least the wound on my thumb has healed. But it’s humiliating to represent Team Singapore and not being able to bowl even my normal 190 average. My 200 averages are just waiting to burst out again. These days this year, I have always been bowling a 140 to 170 average. The last time I bowled these averages was when I was in primary 6!

Just last night, I was looking through my Bible for a verse in 2nd Corinthians until I came across a verse in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “That is why I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardship, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I have no problem in facing these hardships and challenges. The only thing I wish for is that I will not be kicked out of the national team next year. I need to stay in so that I will be able to train without thinking about money. Besides, staying in the national team is what is needed of me in order to continue the Sports School thru-train route from RP to NTU.