An epiphany ... and netball

"The b&%$h went nuts,

She stabbed my basketball, and the speakers to my stereo,

She called me c ..."

Ben Folds, 'B^%#h Went Nuts', 2008

I had an epiphany this weekend whilst playing netball, which I believe will help me with one of my New Years Resolutions - but, most importantly, will help me overcome a sin I struggle to repent of.

I have a problem with swearing ... mainly that I can't stop doing it. Some swear words are just really good descriptive words. I think I have been swearing since I was in primary school. Writing them is another story (as the lyrics above demonstrate), but I never seem to have a problem enounciating them. Many people have tried to help me stop (my boss never swears, she says 'Pluck a duck' instead, which I admit I use from time to time...) with minimal success until now.

I seem to play netball at the moment with a few of the more rowdy players that I have met over the lifetime I have played. On Saturday, one of our girls got upset that her opponent had given her a knock and she gave him a mouthful. She got a warning as a result and the game suddenly turned uncomfortable. Whilst I felt sorry for her situation and annoyed at her opponent, her outburst caught me off guard and I felt that I wanted to distance myself from it. Then, all of a sudden, I found myself thinking of what other people must think when I speak like that ... and I was horrified.

Problem solved? I'm at least on my way. I'm thankful to God for the unique ways he presents to move past hurdles like these and in so doing brings us closer to him.