Play Ball

Play Ball
By Brenda Black

Major League Baseball Division Series play is underway! For the faithful fans of America's iconic sport, here's one....two.....three....striking stories to commemorate the finish of our nation's summer addiction.

FAST BALL: The Minnesota Twins had acquired a new pitching coach, Johnny Sain, back in 1966. During spring training he silently watched pitcher Jim Katt perform. Then called him in for a personal chat.

"Jim," said Sain, "I've been watching you pitch. Tell me, what are your four best pitches?"

Kaat responded, "My best pitch is my fastball. Then comes my curve. My slider and changeup are third and fourth."

"What pitch do you spend the most time practicing?" asked Sain.

"My slider and changeup," said Kaat. "If I can improve on those two pitches, I know I'll have a good season."

Sain looked at Kaat, pondered his comments, and then responded, "I see it a little differently, Jim, and want you to take a different approach. Work on your fastball. I know it's your favorite pitch, so go out there in practice, warm-ups, and during games, and concentrate on your fastball. Throw your fastball 80 to 90 percent of the time all year, and you'll win a lot of games."

Kaat left Sain's office stunned. He had expected expert tips for improving his changeup or slider. At least Sain could have provided some advice for smoothing out his second-best pitch, the curve ball! Telling him to do more of what he already did best didn't make much sense.

But he listened. That season Jim Kaat threw fastball after fastball. Kaat said he thought his arm was going to fall off! But, he heeded the advice of his coach-- and thanks to his fastball, Jim Kaat won 26 games that year, and was named pitcher of the year in the American League. ("Speaker's Source-book 2" (Prentice-Hall), pp. 7-8)

FOUL: From a perfected pitcher to a sloppy hitter, the next story documents the messiest foul ball in baseball history. When a pitch was fouled over the Boston grandstand in 1903, no one thought much of it----at first. But the ball bounced onto a neighboring factory and lodged itself in the shutoff mechanism of a steam whistle. When workers at other factories heard the non-stop noise, they assumed there was a fire somewhere and they fled their factories. In a factory that made baked beans, an evacuating worker forgot to shut down the giant vat in which the beans were cooking. Minutes later, the vat exploded, blowing the roof off the factory and showering fans in the ballpark with tons of Boston Baked Beans!

FAN FAIR: Fans may have needed spoons and napkins in 1903 when it rained baked beans, but humble pie was served along with some kleenex during one of Babe Ruth's final professional games. In his career, Babe hit 714 home runs, but toward the end, the aging Babe racked up errors in field play that turned fans into foes. During one of his last games as a pro, he fumbled the ball several times. In one inning alone, his errors were the main reason the opposing team scored five runs. As the Babe walked off the field and headed toward the dugout, a crescendo of derisive yelling and booing reached his ears. It was a humiliating moment for that great athlete who had been the number one idol of baseball fans for so many years.

At his lowest moment, a boy jumped over the railing onto the playing field. With tears streaming down his face, he knelt before his hero and threw his arms around his legs. Ruth took the boy's hand and lifted him up. He hugged him, then set him on his feet, patting him gently on the head.
Suddenly there was no more booing. In fact, a hush fell over the entire ballpark. The Babe and the boy melted the hearts of the crowd. ("The Preacher's Illustration Service," Jan/Feb 1997)

Just like the game of steals and hits, curves and fastballs, life off the field can be unexpected, comical and compassionate. Bring your best, laugh when the baked beans blow up, and offer grace to those who need it most. That's how you play ball like a pro and win in life.

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom...the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peace-makers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:13, 17-18)

Dodging Death's Bullet

Dodging Death's Bullet
By Brenda Black

Pitcher Slim Caldwell positioned the Cleveland Indians with a 2-1 lead going into the ninth inning of a 1919 game against the Atheletics. Then something hit him – a bolt of lightning! History says that “luckily” Caldwell survived the shock. And when he was revived he finished the game to pick up the victory. (http://members.tripod.com)

In April of 2009, on a battlefield in Afghanistan, British soldier Private Leon “Willy” Wilson is being described as “the luckiest in the British Army.” A bullet whirred through his helmet, but missed his head by 2mm. The near-fatal impact knocked Pvt. Wilson to the ground, but otherwise left him without a mark.

“It shook me up, but there is not much else you can do but get on with the job you are out here to do,” said the dedicated fighter to BBC reporters. Wilson was back on duty within an hour of the incident.

Historians and main stream media may call it luck, but the reality is something even more amazing. There are unseen hands that guard and guide our lives and we are fools to give anything else the credit.

“The Lord protects the simple hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 116:6)

Sometimes the Lord provides miraculous intervention like guiding a bullet or lessening the impact of a lightning bolt. Often his invisible protection is less dramatic, but just as astounding. He conquers our fears with a quiet hush. He removes an invisible mask that darkens our understanding as he opens our eyes to things beyond normal comprehension. He rescues us from dangers we thought harmless and leads us through enemy territory without being touched. He restores our peace with unspeakable words and comforts us in sorrow by wiping tears with gentle, unseen fingers. It is incredible and quite believable that we are in the palm of a Heavenly Father.

Humanity has known it for centuries – we can't take credit that belongs to the Lord Almighty. Even kings themselves knew better. “Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: 'May you prosper greatly! I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.'” Daniel 6:25-27

It's not about luck, it's about heavenly plans that go ahead of us. It is a mystery how often we are protected without our knowledge. The wreck you missed by inches, the boulder that tumbled right after you passed by, the handrail that crumbled just before you took that first step, the tornado that skipped past your house like the plague of death that passed over the Hebrew families in Egypt.

Author, speaker and missionary Elisabeth Elliot always closes her radio broadcasts with Deuteronomy 33:27a. “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” She speaks with authority as a missionary to the jungles of Ecuador. Among a fierce group of Auca Indians that killed rather than communicated, she lived peacefully for two years. Unseen hands helped her dodge the death that dozens before had endured. God had a plan.

We may never fully understand His ways, but there is nothing else we can do except “get on with the job you are out here to do.” Live life ready for death. For while these survivors experienced miraculous protection, a day will come when escaping death will not be an option. In as much as God has the power to protect, He also has the power over the length of each life and the span of every breath. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Ps. 90:12)

Superman may be able to stop a bullet and Captain Marvel whip out a lightening bolt and cry, “SHAZAM!” Still, it is the God of the Universe that holds your life in his unseen hands. Live it for him and death will be welcome when it comes rather than feared. Our inability to dodge death's bullet can be the threshold to perfect, eternal life if we know Who holds it in His hands.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:15-17)