Set-point in the Game of Life

Those who know me well- know that I can be highly competitive.  Perhaps this is because my birthday is March 21st... I’m an Aires.  One of the characteristics of an Aires is to be competitive.  Or, perhaps it’s because I had two older brothers who I adored and with this, I played hard and won for their approval.  Maybe this pattern has continued and transferred into a lot of areas in my life.   It’s probably a combination of both.  But enough of that!  The psychoanalysis is not important.  The bottom line is I’m competitive.  I certainly don’t see this as a flaw. Yet, I always thought it had to be properly channeled and kept in check.   Recently- it dawned on me that maybe, just maybe, this aspect of me could be used in a glorious way.  That is, I could use my competitiveness to be of service to others.  

I  committed many years ago to be of service to others.   This is nothing new for me.  However, I always felt my competitive nature needed to stay separate.  Up to now-I didn’t think being of service and competitive could peacefully coexist.  Finally, I decided to consult Spirit, which I often do about many things.  (The older I get, the less I pursue any idea or decision without first checking in; a lot less heartaches and headaches this way!)  The question being, “How can I incorporate my competitive nature in service to others?”

In meditation, I clearly heard “Love-All” and “Set-point.”   Although I’ve never played tennis, I’ve watched enough of it to know these terms are used in keeping score. “What exactly does this mean?” I asked.   Those are short phrases, but are all I heard.   Now- not only am I competitive but also contemplative.  This is probably because March 21^st is also on the cusp; therefore, I have many Piscean qualities….  OK, OK, I digress!

I looked up Love-All and Set-point on Wikipedia to make sure they meant what I thought.  Love-All in tennis means “zero to zero.”  Neither player has any points.  Set-point is the last point needed to win the game. A light bulb went off!  Spirit is using the analogy of the game of tennis to the game of life.   Hmmmm…, we all know we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves; another way of saying-Love-All.  But how many of us look at life as a game?   And is self-mastery, as Jesus so perfectly demonstrated, clearly and simply to “Love-All.”    (How did the game of life become so complicated?)  Doesn’t “Love-All” mean just that-love everyone!  That doesn’t mean we love the horrific acts of violence, etc., but I do think it means love even those who commit them; love your enemy!  Also, Love All those parts of yourself that you may not be so happy with. Bring them into the Light to coexist peacefully in service to others. Could Love-All, “zero to zero” imply equanimity?  We are all equal and loved equally by the very Creator of the game of life?  When we arrive to the ‘point’ of loving all, is it the “set-point”;  the last point to winning the game of life? Is that the meaning of life, to love all?  Will we soar victoriously with a gold cup?  I think so!

Now my competitive juices are flowing more than ever in the game of life.  I’m playing this match with all the competitiveness I can muster to self-mastery:  Love-All; the set point!  Who is my competition on the other side of the net?  Anything or anyone (including myself) who tells me Love-All is not the answer! Bring it on.  I’m ready!  You will receive back over the net… The strongest ‘back-handed’ dose of love you could have ever imagined… Set Point!

Denna J. Shelton, Copyright 2014

www.twentygemsworkshops.com

www.youtube.com/twentygems2020

Video clip from my meditation series,  "I AM... Love"