Stardate 01.03.2026
Our men’s 4.0 tennis team in the 40+ division steps onto the courts today hoping to keep an undefeated season alive as we play our first league match of 2026—right here at home, at high noon.
A couple of my teammates have affectionately nicknamed me Grandpa. I take it as a compliment. I’m grateful they’re still keeping me around, racket and all. The truth is, the older I get, the more clearly I see how the simple disciplines matter: eating right, sleeping right, moving my body with intention. Even rest—real rest—has become part of the training plan.
Tennis has a way of revealing what we already know but sometimes ignore. You can’t fake conditioning. You can’t rush recovery. You can’t will your body past what you’ve neglected. Growth comes from steady habits, not heroic bursts.
If you’re in the Iowa City area today, come cheer on the home team at North Dodge Athletic Club. Win or lose, we’ll show up, compete hard, and enjoy the gift of being able to play at all.
📖 Encouraging Scripture
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
Not out of pressure.
Out of gratitude.
🖖 Captain’s Addendum
Bones: “Michael, you realize we’re not twenty-five anymore. Bones don’t bounce like they used to.”
Spock: “Doctor, while your observation is emotionally charged, it is logically sound. Maintenance increases longevity.”
Bones: “You hear that, Michael? He called it maintenance.”
Spock: “Indeed. Neglecting maintenance is… illogical.”
Michael’s Log:
Somewhere between warm-ups and water breaks, it hit me again: stewardship isn’t glamorous. It’s faithful. Caring for the body God gave me—through food, rest, movement, and restraint—isn’t vanity. It’s obedience. One percent better doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by choosing today what supports tomorrow.
Mission Log
Status: Active
Objective: Show up prepared, grateful, and present
Lesson Reinforced: Consistency builds endurance—on the court and in life
🙏 Closing Reflection
Thank you, Lord, for strong bodies, willing hearts, and the humility to pace ourselves. Help us honor You not by perfection, but by faithfulness—one day, one habit, one percent better at a time.
1 comment:
I have just recently heard an older man explaining how his father said to him while he was young to always preserve the energy, preserve the “young legs”. I never though about it in this way, but it’s true: the younger you wrap your head around the fact that you will not be forever young and manage energy accordingly, the longer you will actually feel young. :)
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