20170316 “practice makes perfect”

Hebrews 5:14  “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

In the last three weeks, I have had the pleasure of spending time at the Secondary Swim Sports and at the Primary Athletics Day.  The spirit of camaraderie within the houses, and between competitors in the events outstripped the competitive side of the days.  That made for a very pleasant experience for supporters and competitors alike.  Some records were broken at each event – suggesting that the competition was appropriately intense; however, participation and a desire to improve personal best performances were the cornerstones of the days.

Every athlete has likely heard the saying “practice makes perfect”, but is there truth to it? I’ve played competitive team sports for over 45 consecutive years. When I was at my most committed to training and playing, I was doing hours of individual and team practice some days, and tens of hours per week. I could think of nothing better than to play three games on the weekend – it was great experience, and it certainly sharpened my skills. At my most serious, I played alongside those who were in Australia’s first choice men’s team – at times, their focus and drive were inspirational.

The same principles apply to those who are developing musical talents; indeed, in the creative arts, repetition and experimentation are important ingredients to developing skills and flair. It is also a teacher’s regular request of their students, particularly around exam time, to practice questions and do mock exam practice as a way of improving the student’s exam performance.

One thing I learnt early on was that an athlete will never reach perfection – there is always something to improve, but that practice clearly makes improvement possible. There is now a considerable body of brain science study that helps explain the link between practice and performance. As an elite athlete who was a committed Christian, one thing I did know was that God’s gifting of skill on me was a call on me to the discipline of training, of mind and body, so that I could better use the gift in witness and in His service.

Indeed, this Scripture should encourage us to consider our disciplines in all areas of our life. It can, and should be, applied to our discipline of reading the word of God and seeking ongoing Christian fellowship as part of our practice towards growing in spiritual maturity.

As a Christian College, fully committed to the ongoing maturation and development of the head, hearts and hands of our students, it is our ongoing prayer that we will create an environment for each student where they will be able to practice physical, intellectual and spiritual disciplines. We seek this for each student that they may discover God’s call on their lives and grow in faith, using their gifts in all areas of life to bring glory to Him.