Little League

Little league has hit our family again after many years. Blake is five and plays at the Y and William is almost 4 and plays at Second Baptist. Rebecka and her mom and I made the rounds on Sat morning hoping to get a chance to see them both play. Age difference makes quite a difference, especially if it is accompanied by multiple practice times. And oh how precious to get to see the whole transition before your very eyes. William only plays on Sat, 30 minutes practice and 30 minute games. Blake has two practices during the week and then a game on Sat. The five year olds have a grip on procedure; the ball is hit, one or two go after it, throw it to first base and it that doesn't work, they look around for another spot. This is T-ball so there is no pitcher. The four year olds on the other hand line up around the make believe pitcher line and watch....the game begins and the first batter hits the ball and most of them in the short infoeld are checking out their new uniform shirt, and watching each other or watching the parents on the sidelines, or picking at the grass.... but then a few directions are made from the coach and some sideline supporters, and stand by dads and the momentum changes slightly. Next batter hits and they all run for the same ball, falling on each other thus making a huge ground huddle and the ball remains temporarily trapped. Little league at its best for all ages! Each game was a joy to watch. And it will be fiun to see how their skills progress. They were so happy we had come to watch...and it was a sure treat for us. We even have a couple of pictures with the stars to secure that memory.

Watching the set up with each of the young teams reminded me that you have to begin somewhere....with anything. And usually, with a few exceptions, our first attempts are not going to be so good. We are going to have to work to be better and then practice what it is that we have learned,in order to be successful in the endeavor that we have pursued. It is about maturity and practice. Isn't that what our relationship with the Lord is all about? Maturity and practice. Growing into being what God has purposed for us to be and maturing enough along the way to accept the responsibility of balancing our desires with those that God has for us.

I watched those kids and they were watching for direction from their coaches. They needed to be taught what to do and how to do it. We are the same way with our lives. We too often think that we have a handle on what is happening around us and they we get suckered into believeing that we can do all things on our own without God';s help. What if those little leaguers were put out in the field with no direction? They would flounder just as we do, when we refuse to accept instruction or direction from God.

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.


Each time we listen carefully to instruction, God's word of instruction from the bible, and we try to put it into play with our everyday patterns of life....we are practicing what we know and have learned is the right way to act, to respond, to live and to associate with others. We are not gonna get it right all the time but with practice and maturity we are sure to get better on life's playing field. The four year old ground huddle tickled me to pieces. The point to get the ball was made. It was a simple point that everyone could understand and relate to. It was how to get it and what to do with it afterward that was not quite clear.

We all want religion, but when we ask for it and get it we sometimes don't know what to do with it. Becasue with religion comes belief, belief in an eternal savior, Jesus Christ, sent to this earth by God himself. And why...to save us from the destruction and death caused by our sins. With religion comes faith, a faith that stands on the fact that no matter what is going on in your life, or what you have done or not done, God has forgiven you and loves you far more than anything you can possible understand. He is ready and waiting to help you and grow you and ready you for the field of life. But it takes training and a true initiative to listen to the lesson and practice it in the throws of everyday living.

Sometimes we act like the four year olds and stand waiting for someone to direct us and guide us...but if we are careful to keep our eye on the ball or the situation at hand and trust God to lead us to the next step....we will gradually learn to trust in his coaching and have a true grip on what it is to be faithful embrace his instruction and apply it to our many aspects of life.

There was such a difference int he four and five year old ability. We must remember too that we are all on a journey with the Lord that is specifically tailored for his purposes in our lives. There are always going to be those who are better at some things than others, and there are always going to be
conflicts and challenging moments as we compare our lives to others, but he truth is: God has created us, according to his own image, and each day the process of transformation is taking place. It is such a gradual movement in time that we hardly notice the steps we have taken forward, but look back for a minute and think...and ask: have my priorities changed in the past few years, how bout my attitude, or my perspective? If your answer is yes then you can see how he is working, if your answer is no, then maybe you too need to reconsider some of the lessons that you have heard but maybe not attempted to pursue. We are presented with truth...but is it a personal choice that each of us has to make as to whether or not we will accept it.

It doesn't matter if you are four or ninety four, we all are on a playing field of life. It is how you play the game for sure , but it is also about how teachable you are? If we stand ready and alert for direction, then we will be given it from God, if we wallow in the what ifs and the can't dos then it is us who is failing to recognize the potential and power that lies within each of us. In order to mature in the word of God we have to learn to live with the bounds of His teaching....and then choose to act upon it. The bat is in your hands. Be ready!

Dear Lord, Teach us to come to our field of play with a confidence that you are the power, the courage, and the strength that lies within us and you will
discipline us, train us and coach us and mature us as we embark on your game of life. May we be attentive, absorb your lessons and practice them day by day in our relationships, in our jobs, in our responsibilities, and in our daily decisions. Amen


Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!