Smash

Today I played smash at CMU. I was printing out 5 papers for Advanced Cell Bio when I saw them button mashing in the hall across from the printer. I sat down in front of a blue-hued only TV and asked how could I get in on a round. I played one game, and it happened to be against the person hosting the friendlies, probably one of the better players in the group. I lost, but only barely. I gave the john "I haven't played competitively since sophomore year," and could have said I needed a warm-up (which wouldn't happen as they closed up shop right after) and he had 5 hours to get his fingers nimble. Still, it was the most exhilarating thing I felt this entire year, and my body is still shaking from the excitement an hour later. I think I might play on Saturday, in between Vision School and men's cell group. It was so weird to play smash after attending ACF and KUPC prayer meetings tonight.

At the KUPC prayer meeting, one of the freshmen wanted to give up his childish ways, as according to 1 Corinthians 13. I wonder if smash was one of my childish ways. I know from experience that smash is no more childish than any other hobby, such as sports or watching tv shows, and the childish part is placing it as a priority in life over God's glory and purpose for you. It is only considered childish from an American cultural standpoint, since in the future, maybe within 100 years, it is for certain the whatever the new wave of e-sports will be, they will dominate in popularity over soccer or football one day. You already see that trend with LOL and DOTA.

Like I told the head smasher at CMU, I quit playing competitively at the end of my sophomore year. I gave it up so I could lead ACF and a inter-fellowship prayer meeting. Since then I technically didn't even own a copy of the game. Today I wondered for the first time if that was truly the best decision I made in my life. Is it really that bad if the coordinator of a campus fellowship indulges in video games? Could I have used it to minister to people? Would it have been any different than sports ministry? Traditionally, video/computer gaming has been the dominant way of inviting Asians and Asian Americans into the Christian community, especially in California and overseas. Obviously you don't stop the friendship, accountability, and honesty at the gaming level, but go deeper into the Love of Christ and scripture, but it is a good place to start. Again it is only bad for you if you turn it into an idol, as with any idol in life.

I ask myself, "is it wrong for me to get this excited about playing a game of smash?" When have I ever gotten that excited, that whole body shaking with elation feeling, for God?

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

May I use it for the Glory of Him, or not at all.

Looks like I've been mixing smash with faith since 2009 :P

edit: So I ended up going to a smash tourney the following Saturday at CMU to try a little bit of video game ministry aka reach out to a specific brother in ACF whom I have seen hurting lately, and just maybe God can use smash to help me get to know him better and reach out to him (whether I can at all with God's power or this might not be within God's plan for me will require more discernment). I didn't even realize it was a tournament, but I wouldn't have given up going to Vision School, or eating out with two brothers I haven't before at Pamela's, and I would have lost very fast anyways. It was fun, the brother did come and I did get a chance to follow-up, so lets see where this takes me.