When I heard the ping-pong ball skipping across the table, I could feel my heart beat skip too. It was my last game in primary school, and the last ball of the game. Either I would win, along with my team, or we would both lose. That game was critical, but my opponent was powerful.

“I knew that our team competition would come down to the final match between us,” Wen said as he shook hands with me before the first game of the best-of-three game series. He smiled as he had done before other games between us. Wen was the one who taught me the backhanded skill, and being less experienced, I was always the loser in our matches. 

The first game proved that point, as it was difficult for me to break his defense. What’s more, the ball he served had a quick rotation. All these factors led to the loss of my first game, as the score was eleven to seven. I knew it would be hard for me, but I needed to make some changes. I heard the cheering crowd and knew my teammates were behind me. The next game was crucial, because if I lost, the competition would be over.

The second game began. I thought about what I could do differently. Yes, Wen was more skilled, but I knew that I had some advantages. The first advantage was my defense. What is ping-pong after all? Ping-pong is a game where you should hit the ball to the opposite side of net again and again. If you can do that every time, you will never lose a game. In this way, I gave up the attack and played defense. My goal was to make no mistakes, and it was a good idea which resulted in my first lead. Suddenly, I heard a cheer from my teammates, and it gave me the strength to continue, even though I knew that I could not win the game only by my friends’ cheering.

I was always afraid of the ball Wen served because of its amazing rotation and speed! I could feel my sweat and my body became tired, so I knew that it had to be the time to gamble! For the next ball, I quickly sent a high ball back to him. No one would intentionally do that! Wen was too surprised to get the ball, and I won the point! I saw the score, which was eleven to nine. I had won the second game. In addition to playing good defense, throwing some little tricks into the game turned out to be my second advantage.

More passionate cheer came from my teammates who were watching intently. I knew the trick I had just used could only save me one time. In the final game, it would only be about using our skill and wisdom. From the former games, we became more adapted to each other, and nobody could anticipate the lead. We both fought hard for victory. For a time, the cheering seemed far away and I felt my hands become cold. Then I made a mistake, and it might have been my biggest mistake in the whole game. As a result, the score was now ten to nine, and Wen was in the lead. He only needed one more point to win!

As he got ready to serve the last ball, I knew that I had no time to find the solution! All that I was aware of was my desire to win, and that desire commanded me to move my arm. Fortunately, Wen was also nervous and as the ball skipped across the table, I returned it strongly and won the point. Suddenly, it was ten to ten! Wen lost the most important chance to win, and I was sure he would not get it again! I would serve the next ball! Suddenly, it was eleven to ten and I was the leader! I realized that psychological stability was my last advantage. It could help me win the final point, and the championship for our team!

Wen served the last ball. All cheering ceased, and the room became silent. I knew my hands were cold, but I also noticed that Wen’s hands were shaking. I returned his serve deep on his side of the net and he returned it. But the ball hit the top of the net, and time stopped. Would it fall on his side of the net, or mine? In the silence, I heard the ball bouncing on the table, just like my heartbeat. When I looked, I saw that the ball had fallen on Wen’s side of the net! I couldn’t believe that I had won the final game, and my team the championship.

It’s been many years since that time, but I can still remember the complete silence that was broken with loud cheers and applause. Then, Wen walked over and congratulated me. I knew if I were the one who had lost, I might not have done that. Wen taught me about humility in that last game. I also learned that in a tough situation, a person must think about all the possible solutions, or he would never succeed. Many tests in my life have been just like that ping-pong game. Even though victory may seem impossible, I have come to realize that there must be solutions to make it possible, and I need to do all that I can to find them.

Additional Comments – We all love to win at sports, or at least in board games. And if we are not active in either, then we love to see our favorite team win. During the summer and winter Olympic Games, we cheer for our country and favorite athletes to win in the individual events. Furthermore, there is something about cheering for the “underdog.” In the recent Winter Olympic Games, there were some pretty spectacular underdogs who won medals. And who can forget the “ultimate underdogs” in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Alberta as the Jamaican bobsledders (from a tropical country) made a spectacular showing to the amazement of all.

In his letter to the Christians in Corinth, the Apostle Paul describes the Christian life as a race to the finish line. He’s not talking about “rushing” through life, but about being purposeful in our living. Here’s what he says:

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Therefore, run in such a way that you may win” (1 Cor. 9:24).

Paul goes on to talk about training for the race when he says,

“Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. Other runners do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one” (1 Cor. 9:25).

And then Paul goes on to talk his own self-discipline, which he does for just one purpose — to win the race and gain the prize. He disciplines himself so that his running would not be in vain  (1 Cor. 9:26-27).

For Paul, his training was spiritual training, and it should be ours as well. All of us want to “finish well,” that is, to accomplish the purpose for which we were created. For the Christian, it’s about being genuine and non-hypocritical, that is, it’s about living authentic lives. It’s about becoming more like Jesus in our character, conduct, and calling to minister to the hurts and needs of others. It’s about going the second mile, and about being kind, compassionate, and forgiving toward others.

Just like going to the gym, we train ourselves by practicing each and every day what it means to “be like Jesus.” That’s how we run the race to win. We model the life of Jesus, and wait to have Him greet us at the finish line saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Mt. 25: 21, 23).