Live Life Like a Little League Baseball Kid

This past weekend was the final games of our grandkids' baseball season. Now, to lay the groundwork, you need to realize that there are different levels of kids' baseball. There is what I would call rec-league. Then official Little League. Then, for the hard-core folks, we have Travel Ball. Each level has its own dynamic, its own level of talent, commitment, and, 'ahem' financial investment. My sons played Official Little League. I have relatives who had/have kids in Travel Ball. My grandchildren are currently playing in a rec-league. A local church has a wide-reaching sports program. They have a baseball program, flag football and soccer. Hundreds of children in the community participate, some who may not otherwise get to play in an official league or school.  It is a great program. 

This last game of the season, my grandson's team, which my husband helps coach, lost their last game badly. I think the score was something like 20-4. We in the stands quit counting at some point. It was sad and demoralizing. We hurt for the kids as we watched some of them stumble over their own feet in the outfield, watch the ball roll to the fence and have some real moments of struggle. They had some good moments, some good plays. But clearly, not enough. After a 'chin up' and pep talk, we headed to one of the player's house for an after-season party and barbeque.

Within minutes of arriving, as the boys, (and one girl) hit the giant slip-and-slide, the final score was forgotten. When Noah's dad pulled out the wave runner and the two big floats and began the towing of kids around the lake, the screaming laughter drowned out any memories of errors of the game. Fun and laughter over-rode the defeat. I suspect it may have not made it past the parking lot in anticipation of the fun to be had.

I pondered how much easier life would be if we could live our lives like these kids. How often do we let the defeats, mistakes, and negative experiences of our lives determine so much of our future? Sure, it is imperative that we learn from our mistakes, (thus the pep talks after the earlier games in the season), but we also have the coaches on the side lines encouraging players to 'keep your head up!" I love that phrase. When our eyes are cast down, we cannot see where we are going. We cannot see what is in front of us. And for we Christians, that is hope, a future. 

When a baseball player, especially a young one, hits the ball and takes off for first base, he is often implored to 'don't watch the ball'. He is the keep his eyes on first base: his goal. Run it out. But when he is at the plate, he is to keep his eye on the ball until it meets the bat. Both of these instructions are about keeping his eye on his goal.

Paul wrote in Phillippians 3: "...I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. The goal I pursue is the prize of God's upward call in Christ Jesus." We are to forget those things behind us, our mistakes, our errors, our defeats. Keep our eyes on our goals. 

This morning I read in 2 Timothy where Paul was encouraging the young man. He told him to "fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you...for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."  

What is your gift? What has God called you to do? We need to stop looking behind in fear and trepidation and move toward the goal with power and love. Live life like a Little League kid.