Ok, I admit it. I scream at T-Ball games. Thankfully it’s not at the officials, (uh, except that one time, sorry Blue), but it’s screaming nonetheless. You see, I helped coach our son’s T-Ball team during “fall ball” and it taught me more about listening than two days at a leadership conference.
Here’s how it works. You go over (and over) the concept of looking and listening to the 3rd base Coach (normally my post) for instructions on running the bases. However, as you can imagine, the “listening” and “looking” are usually directed at a plane in the sky, or the big kids outside the fence instead of the coach trying to get them home safe, so there I am screaming at the top of my lungs “RUN!” Don’t get me wrong, I fully understand how natural it is for a 6 year-old to be easily distracted, but I catch myself ignoring God in the same way sometimes, so what’s my excuse? I mean, He gives clear instructions in scripture, but during the action I’m looking everywhere for direction except to Him.
Is there help for those of us who do that? Yes, it’s T-Ball 101:
- “Look at the Coach!” – Not Mom, Dad, Granny or anyone else…keep your eyes on the Coach. Yes, there are times when other people help us (lots of times), but in the heat of the action we must keep our eyes and ears fixed on our Coach-Jesus! Hebrews 12:2 directs us to be “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” There will be lots of life noise around, but I need to learn His location and voice.
- “Look strait ahead to home!” – Don’t watch the others players chasing the ball around the field, RUN! Sorry, I’m screaming again, but I imagine it looks like that from God’s perspective. I’m standing on the proverbial third base of life and could easily score, but heavenly shouts of “RUN Chris!” go unheeded because I’m concerned more with what the opposition is doing instead of where I’m headed.
- “Don’t wait…go when the ball is hit!” – Don’t hesitate to do what you’ve been told to do. James 4:17 says “…to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Perhaps you’ve been there…I have. God speaks to our spirit and we hesitate, waiting for another word of confirmation. It could be taking a positive step toward something or stopping a sinful habit. Don’t wait…RUN!
Last but not least…have fun! Maybe you’ve not heard that in a long time, but we need to hear it too. So, “Work hard and do your best, but remember to have FUN!”
cchrisholland 