Let me begin today’s blog post with a disclaimer. If you read further, you will find that I intend to be a bragging grandfather. And that with good reason, for my oldest grandson, who is seven years of age and in the second grade, is playing fall baseball this year.
Now for the bragging part… This evening, he was playing short stop with two opposing runners on base. The batter at the plate hit a fly ball, which he caught, getting the batter out. He then raced to second base and stepped on it, getting the runner who had left for third out before he could return. Finally, seeing that the runner coming from first had advanced too far before stopping and retreating to first, he chased him down and tagged him out as well.
Voila! Did you catch it? I did! A triple play!
Needless to say, I was so proud, as I sat out beyond the outfield fence (chosen because it offers the best view of the field). Unable to contain myself, the platitudes poured forth from my mouth… “Boom!”; “Hoo Yah!”; “You go, boy!”; “Who da man?!”; “Put that in your pipe and smoke it!”
Now, to be sure, I said all these things under my breath, so as not to be seen as “That Granddad”! After all, it’s only “Coaches Pitch” on a “Little League” Field. Still, in the moment, it was all I could do to contain my emotions and hold my tongue.
I’m sure glad I did. For it seems that there were already two outs, and the only out that mattered was the one where he caught the fly ball! The other two outs, impressive as they may have been, were nonetheless superfluous. Upon realizing this, I immediately retooled and, taking things in perspective, expressed my excitement in a manner more appropriate to the proper context.
Still, in the moment, the play was a beautiful thing to behold. And I was glad to have been there to witness it. My little grandson played the string out and turned the triple play! And while he may not have grasped the notion that a single out would have ended the inning, neither did the baserunners on the other team. To their credit, everyone involved was giving it their best as they played the game.
This latter thought has stayed with me all throughout the evening. Looking back over my life, I find myself asking one simple question: “Did I always give it my very best and play the string out?!” I like to think I did.
This much is certain. Not giving one’s best means one will never have the opportunity to excel. Similarly, not playing the string out will do the same.
The United States Navy Seals have a saying: “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. Moderation is for cowards!” Such a statement is merely a call to total commitment. For without total commitment, there can never be total victory.
Perhaps this is part of what Jesus had in mind when He told His disciples In the New Testament Gospel of John (chapter 4, verse 34) that he was called “to finish the work” God had given Him to do. No doubt, inspired by His example, the apostle Paul would go on to state (in his Second New testament Letter to Timothy, chapter 4, verse 7): “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”
Little wonder, then, that the writer of the New Testament Book of Hebrews (in chapter 12, verse 1) would admonish us to “keep running with endurance the race set before us” until the very end. Why? Because great things only come from great effort!
And so, my friends, always keep running and always, always, fully finish the course! Run not only up to, but through and beyond the tape! In other words, every time the opportunity presents itself, always play the string out!
After all, there may well be times in life when such opportunities arise with less than two outs! When they do, double plays are possible. And sometimes, even triple plays!
SCRIPTURES:
https://biblehub.com/john/4-34.htm;
https://biblehub.com/2_timothy/4-7.htm;
https://biblehub.com/hebrews/12-1.htm.
Now for the bragging part… This evening, he was playing short stop with two opposing runners on base. The batter at the plate hit a fly ball, which he caught, getting the batter out. He then raced to second base and stepped on it, getting the runner who had left for third out before he could return. Finally, seeing that the runner coming from first had advanced too far before stopping and retreating to first, he chased him down and tagged him out as well.
Voila! Did you catch it? I did! A triple play!
Needless to say, I was so proud, as I sat out beyond the outfield fence (chosen because it offers the best view of the field). Unable to contain myself, the platitudes poured forth from my mouth… “Boom!”; “Hoo Yah!”; “You go, boy!”; “Who da man?!”; “Put that in your pipe and smoke it!”
Now, to be sure, I said all these things under my breath, so as not to be seen as “That Granddad”! After all, it’s only “Coaches Pitch” on a “Little League” Field. Still, in the moment, it was all I could do to contain my emotions and hold my tongue.
I’m sure glad I did. For it seems that there were already two outs, and the only out that mattered was the one where he caught the fly ball! The other two outs, impressive as they may have been, were nonetheless superfluous. Upon realizing this, I immediately retooled and, taking things in perspective, expressed my excitement in a manner more appropriate to the proper context.
Still, in the moment, the play was a beautiful thing to behold. And I was glad to have been there to witness it. My little grandson played the string out and turned the triple play! And while he may not have grasped the notion that a single out would have ended the inning, neither did the baserunners on the other team. To their credit, everyone involved was giving it their best as they played the game.
This latter thought has stayed with me all throughout the evening. Looking back over my life, I find myself asking one simple question: “Did I always give it my very best and play the string out?!” I like to think I did.
This much is certain. Not giving one’s best means one will never have the opportunity to excel. Similarly, not playing the string out will do the same.
The United States Navy Seals have a saying: “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. Moderation is for cowards!” Such a statement is merely a call to total commitment. For without total commitment, there can never be total victory.
Perhaps this is part of what Jesus had in mind when He told His disciples In the New Testament Gospel of John (chapter 4, verse 34) that he was called “to finish the work” God had given Him to do. No doubt, inspired by His example, the apostle Paul would go on to state (in his Second New testament Letter to Timothy, chapter 4, verse 7): “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”
Little wonder, then, that the writer of the New Testament Book of Hebrews (in chapter 12, verse 1) would admonish us to “keep running with endurance the race set before us” until the very end. Why? Because great things only come from great effort!
And so, my friends, always keep running and always, always, fully finish the course! Run not only up to, but through and beyond the tape! In other words, every time the opportunity presents itself, always play the string out!
After all, there may well be times in life when such opportunities arise with less than two outs! When they do, double plays are possible. And sometimes, even triple plays!
SCRIPTURES:
https://biblehub.com/john/4-34.htm;
https://biblehub.com/2_timothy/4-7.htm;
https://biblehub.com/hebrews/12-1.htm.