TOGETHER: Of baseball, faith & Christian living_110104

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Posted: 10/29/04

TOGETHER:
Of baseball, faith & Christian living

An old sports adage claims, “Records are meant to be broken.” The Boston Red Sox believe it. Never before has a major league baseball team come from being 0 and 3 in a seven-game contest to win the playoff series. And they did it against their archrivals, the Yankees. Sweet vindication.

And then in their World Series shutout triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals, they held the powerful Cardinal lineup to a .190 batting average. This was the first time a major league baseball team has won eight consecutive games in postseason play.

What could not be done was done! Manny Ramirez, who was almost traded to the Texas Rangers last year, was selected Most Valuable Player in the World Series. He said, “I just left everything in God's hands, and I said: 'Well, if they want to trade me, I'll go any place they want me to go. If they want me to come back to Boston, I'll go and try and do my job.' I wasn't mad or nothing, because sometimes God puts you in a place for a reason.”

CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board

Many Christians will read that quote and say, “How right you are, Manny.” One of the reasons the Christian faith continues to grow and change lives is because that is the experience of countless of us. God does have a way of working in the midst of disappointment, change, threat or surprise to shape our lives so we can see his gracious hand at work. He does put us in places for a reason!

Another story in this amazing run of victories by the Boston team belongs to Curt Schilling, the courageous pitcher who gave new meaning to their Red Sox name. The cameras focused often on his right ankle, where the blood stain could be seen from temporary repairs to a tendon. For a pitcher, strong legs are as important as a strong arm. The power behind a 98 mph fastball comes from the “push off” of the legs as well as the whip of the arm.

Those who watched the games he pitched winced as he would limp coming to the dugout after pitching another strong inning. Schilling lost the first game against the Yankees and pitched miserably. After winning the next game he pitched, he said that he had to reach down inside himself and realize that he needed to depend on God and not on himself. And that he had to be willing to give credit to God for whatever he might achieve. He proceeded to pitch magnificently in his remaining starts against the Yankees and the Cardinals, even with the blood stains on his right Red Sox. And he gave credit where credit was due.

Again, ordinary Christians could identify. We all have faced failure, pain, confusion and uncertainty about how we can possibly go forward. We have found in those moments of discouragement or even despair that we can go forward if we will rely on God's presence and power.

I don't know either player. I have no idea how consistent or inconsistent their Christian lives may be. Being great ball players does not make them great theologians. But I know this: Ordinary Christians who go to work every day, in or out of the spotlight, experience God's presence and glory in very practical and real ways. That truth, shared in life and testimony, keeps on convincing people God does care about each and every one of us.

We gather in San Antonio in a few days: “Celebrando la Familia de Dios.” There is so much for us to learn from one another. Each and every one has their own testimony of how God is at work in their life and in the life of their church. We need to hear from you. I will be looking for you.

We are loved.

Charles Wade is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas

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