Clutch

I watched the overtime success in the eleventh inning, score 3 to 3, as the Texas Rangers defeated the Detroit lions in their fourth game in the best of seven. It was baseball at its best, defensively and offensively. This gave the Rangers a three to one game lead for the rights to go to the world series. I knew my sister and brother in law were at the game and I was pulling for them to get to see a victory. Tie ball game in the ninth and it was going to have to be some clutch playing to overcome the odds of a great pitcher and a first bat. And not one player but three addressed the challenge face on and they won 7 to 3. As I turned out lights and closed down the house, I considered the pressure that those guys must be under. Both teams actually, and the fact that someone has to lose and someone gets to win. The favor at this point stacks up for the Rangers. Two consecutive times in the world series, a terrific feat in itself.

This reminded me of a story that was told in bible study this week, and later shared with me because I wasn't able to be there. It was regarding the funeral of Pam's mom who died in July of this year. She said she had spoken first and then her brother was to speak next. He was a big guy who played football and coached and he was ever so close to his mom, just as she was. As many of us can relate, this was an emotional time for all of their family but especially for him and he wasn't sure at first that he could pull it together enough to speak, but he did. This was a clutch moment in his life.

He began by pointing to the casket that was in front of him and said this was my first true love. Then went on to say that he had played and coached to many who were in the audience and they knew what he would say regarding any game. There are going to be games you win and games you lose. But don't miss the "life" that is in all of it. I was not there, and hope that I am giving you a somewhat accurate account of the story. But the jest of his comments are that there are always going to be tough times, some tougher than others, but you have to regard them as part of life, the life that God has allowed to all of us. He said I will grieve deeply, but even in the grieving, I will know that this loss is a part of me... living.

There are times when the heat is going to be turned up, and we have to play our best in clutch situations, and not fold under the pressure. God is the only who can give us the strength, the confidence , the stamina and the where with all to carry on when all seems to be in chaos. It is his peace that calms our hearts and soothes our souls. We just have to walk up to the plate and take a deep breath, let the adrenalin flow in rivers of confidence and then swing when the pitches are thrown our way. There are going to be strike outs and walks ...oh but there are going to be hits as well. And every once in a while there will be a homerun, sometimes bringing others home before us who were standing on their base.

We all have had someone we have loved be called home. And it is a tough loss whether we had expected it or whether it came upon us suddenly. Pam's mom had been sick for a while and she was waiting for her call. No matter where we are in our lives, whether we are in the infield or the outfield, on base, the batter or on the sidelines we still have to play our best game. And our best game is only played when we allow Christ to be a part of it. There are going to be times when we lose oh but there are going to be times when we win, and through each of those moments there are lessons to learn, strengths to be gained, perspectives to seek, emotions to be tried, and attitudes to be checked. Clutch ...means performing well under extreme pressure. We might not be standing at bat in extra innings, oh but the pressure situations that each of us experience in everyday life might just as well compare. If we allow Christ to be an active part of our performance, we may grieve over a loss but his scoreboard will always read a victory. For in our grieving , we must have been given his grandest opportunity of all, to love someone deeply who he placed in our lives. And that is the victory in living....to be loved and to love, through the love of God himself.

Colossians 1:10-12

... so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.


Dear Lord, Help me to live life clutched in your ways and for your glory. Amen

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