The Baseball Story...

Yeah, so I just got back from a Dayton Dragons' Game. They faced the Bowling Green Hot Rods. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about it's minor league baseball. Been so long since I followed baseball frequently. My Mom actually tried to get me into it during my childhood. She collected baseball cards for me, hoping one day I would take an interest. It never really caught on. Especially, after I was forced to play little league in third grade.

Long ago, my parents conceived the notion that this would be the best way to get me into shape.



So now that you realize the kid in right field was better than me, it doesn't get any more humbling than that. Except the first time I got up to bat, I had two strikes on me, and was terrified of my surroundings. I wanted to go home. With two strikes on me, the catcher looked up to me and said "Just swing at it..." Knowing I wanted nothing more that to be in the comfort of my own home playing Nintendo, I swung at a ball that was 3 feet above my head. This not only brought on laughs from the opposing team, but from my own team, including my coach. I didn't want to go back, but I did. The next time I got up to bat, I made up my mind, "No way am I going to swing!!" All of a sudden the Umpire looked up at me and said, "Alright son, take a base." What was he talking about? "Take a base!! You walked!" It dawned on me. You don't have to hit the ball to get on base. You can walk!!

That whole season, that was all I did!! My purpose was not to hit the ball and get on base. My purpose was to WALK!!! I even acquired the nickname "The Walker"... Until one day, when it caught up to me. We were playing against an undefeated team. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, they decided to send up the secret weapon... "THE WALKER!!!" I strutted up to home plate in my nice, white, clean uniform. I did my routine and walked, no challenge!

As I looked back to home plate I sighed in anguish, because the coach's son was up to bat. He had the dirtiest uniform on the team! I was going to have to run! The bases were loaded, and we were down by two. All of a sudden, "CRACK!!" He hit the ball. Mind you, I had asthma really bad, was pudgy and I was going as fast as I could. The two guys in front of me made it home and tied up the score. The coach's son was right behind me. His toes were right on my heels. He would've passed me if he was allowed. Before I knew it he was tagged out!!!

So now it's up to me!! If I make it we win. If I don't it's a tie. I'm almost positive I heard the Chariots of Fire theme song playing in the background. There was dust flying everywhere as the base coaches were screaming at me! I rounded third base and saw the ball flying out of the corner of my eye. Miraculously, it bounced off the catcher's glove and gave me enough time to launch my gravitorally challenged body on to home plate. I was the champion, my friend!!

I look back at this memory, which is most likely forgotten by the other teammates and probably even the coaches, and reflect on the preparation I had to win. Even now it applies to my life. As Christians, we are called to give our best. Nothing second rate should ever be presented as an offering to God. 1st Corinthians speaks of the runners in a race. Only one gets the prize, so they run in such a way as to get the prize. They practice by beating their bodies into submission so they will be conditioned to win. They don't walk. They run. So my challenge for myself, as well as those around me is to ask, are you doing your best for God?

Today, I did weights. I ate healthy, and of course had no ballpark food. I actually snuck in some healthy fruit leather from Trader Joe's. I have a subbing gig lined up for next week! Hopefully they call me tomorrow... Thanks again for all your support!!

IN HIM,

Rich Jones
www.richjonescomedy.com

1 Corinthians 9:24 - "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."