OCTOBER (part 1)
It is October and that means it is time for the Major League Baseball Playoffs. Those of you who were raised on the slogan “It is as American as baseball and apple pie”, understand exactly what I am talking about when I say the little leaguer in me always comes out this time of year.
Some of you by way of luck or the bandwagon have a team that always makes the playoffs. I am not that lucky. My love for Major League Baseball came in 1979. I remember at 10 years old sitting in a dentist office reading a Sports Illustrated. The cover read “We Are Family”. The team on the cover had black and yellow uniforms with cool hats with stripes around the top. Their jerseys read “Pirates”. Family, a cool hat, and a pirate captured this little kid that day.
From that day on my wiffleball teams in the backyard were always the Pirates. I could tell you every player on the Pirates, not only that but I could mimic each of their batting stances in the batter’s box. When playing wiffleball, I would imitate each batter. Batting lead off, Omar Merino, speed with a plan to get on base for the power coming behind him in the “Mad Dog” Bill Madlock, the “Cobra” Dave Parker, and “Pops” Willie Stargell. Man did I love me some Willie Stargell. He had the coolest routine when stepping into the batter’s box. I still mimic that routine when playing wiffleball today.
What are the odds that in 1981 a player from only 10 miles down the road from my house moves into the two hole in the Pirates lineup? For the next 7 years Johnny Ray manned second base for my beloved Pirates. Not only that, but he started sponsoring my father’s softball team, because one of my father’s players played with him at Chouteau High School. As a result, I got all kinds of Pirates gear over that time period. I was in baseball heaven.
This is the first of a three part blog on America’s favorite past time – Baseball!
Let me ask you a crazy question. What if batters never left the batter’s box?
Talk about a dream killer. Actually that may be one of the most absurd off the wall thoughts I have ever come up with. That is saying a lot if you ask my wife, as I have been known to come up with some interesting thoughts.
Imagine yourself at the plate. You are going through your routine waiting for the pitch. You look the pitcher in the eye and predict their pitch before they even begins their windup. You dig your back foot into the dirt and prepare to twist your hips to unlock all the torque you can muster to send every ounce of energy in your body to the contact point on the bat you hold loosely in your hands. You see the ball leave the pitcher’s hand as if it is in slow motion. Reading the threads on the ball as it spins, you welcome it into your wheelhouse. You unleash all the power within you smashing the ball against the sweet spot on the bat. There are times when the ball hits the end of the bat stinging your hands, but not this time. This time you experience that sweet feeling of the ball seemingly launching from your bat as you rip the ball into the air. I will let your imagine take over to decide where the ball is headed, but what if at that moment you realize.
You are stuck in the batter’s box!
Many of us are living this experience every day. We have dreams. We so much desire to step into the batting box and take the risk of taking a swinging for the fences again as we did as kids in the backyard or little league. Some of us have struck out so many times that we simply stand in the batter’s box and watch the ball go by expecting to fail miserably. Some of us go through your batting routine, but we have already given into the lie the enemy is whispering in your ear, “You can’t hit”. Some of us get in the box and start praying for a walk, while God is waiting patiently for us to grow our faith large enough so we will swing the bat and give him a chance to do greater things in your life.
For this group who are scared to even swing the bat, this first post if for you. I hope you realize today that Jesus already pinch hit for you. On the cross your Savior took a shot in the ribs from a fast ball. It was very painful, high and inside causing unbearable pain. Awe, Jesus did not stay down. He got up and walked out of the box. As a result, you are free to leave the batter’s box and pinch run for Him the rest of the way!
In the Old Testament God’s presence was in a box called the Ark of the Covenant. God set the stage for winning back the championship that Adam and Eve had lost. In the New Testament Jesus not only stepped into the box, but our King came out of the box. No grave or box could hold Jesus. Jesus in human form, just like you and I, was functioning in the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result, He overcame the box and gave each of us the power to do the same. Jesus not only left the box and returned to Heaven, our big Brother sent that power back to us so that we could do the same. We have the power to step into the box, pound the enemy, and run out of the box chasing our dreams. Ask the Holy Spirit to place the dream that God has for you in your heart, then step into the batter’s box and knowing Jesus already pinch hit for you and all you have to do is go to first base to run the race that He has planned for you. It is a great plan with greater things than you can imagine waiting.
Why are you still in the box? Rise up and feel the dirt that our Creator made us from. We are made in the image of our Father. The Pirates had it right, “We are Family”. Follow the path Our Father has for us and not only dream, but take risk. Follow the Spirit as He guides you around the bases of life. It does not matter if you are young or old.
In Acts 2:17 the Bible says, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” God is pouring the Spirit out right now, it is time for you dream and vision and to get out of the box!
Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash