Grace for life and baseball

I love to play baseball. I have loved it ever since I can remember. When I was four my grandma gave me a baby doll for my birthday. I am sure I played with dolls, but I don’t remember it. My best friend, Becky, lived next door and had a baseball glove. You can see where this is leading. I wanted the baseball glove and she wanted the doll. We thought it was a fair trade. We both got what we wanted. My mom did not think that was a good idea. So we had to trade back.

Becky’s dad was a baseball coach and there was a big empty lot behind our houses. Out on that dusty, make shift diamond Mr. Heinke first taught me how to hold a bat. I learned that you were not to spin around on your toe when you swung at the ball. I learned that you could not pass up the runner in front of you, even if you were faster than he was. I learned how to throw and catch a ball, not like a girl. I learned to love baseball.

When I was in elementary school I rode my bike around Weyauwega to find anyone who would play ball with me. My glove, ball, and bat were always on the back of my bike. One week of summer camp we played ball any time it was light and there was not anything else planned. It was a great week in my estimation. I never got to play organized ball until I was 40 years old. I was a kid before girls were allowed to play ball with the boys.

I tell you all this some just for the journey and some to let you know I love to play ball.

Yesterday I got to take some batting practice. It has been warm here and I have been looking longingly at the diamonds, so when I heard some of the guys were hitting I invited myself. While I was batting a ball came in to close to me and I put my hand out to catch the ball. It was an awkward position and I jammed my finger.
I told my kids and they were all over me about not catching balls with my bare hands. I suppose they have a point. Two years ago I was playing second base and a lefty came up to bat. The ball was hit hard and took a bad bounce. It jagged from my glove hand to my bare hand. The ball hit my thumb and did some damage.

As I thought about this all and look at my finger that is twice it’s normal size I must make a spiritual application. Since a young child I have been given tools to play ball. I was taught the skills and I have practiced the skills. I always say, “You can’t play well, if you don’t look good.” So I put on the batting gloves. I have a bat when batting.
I wear a glove in the field, but these are all of no affect if they are not used. If when I am batting I catch the ball with my hand instead of hit the ball with a bat what good is the bat? If when in the field I use my bare hand what affect is the glove I have on my other hand? The answer to both of these questions is, they are no good to anyone because they have not been used.

Dan has been preaching in James and as he preached through chapter 4, we find that “He(God) gives more grace.” Not just for hardship, but for living in a way we are not equipped to live as sinful humans. 2 Peter 1:3 God gives us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Do we use what has been given to us? When we try to live this life in our own it is like trying to catch a line drive with your bare hand.