Missing the Spectacular

The morning of the third game of the All Star tournament dawned and for some reason I woke up nervous, pacey, and antsy. Doug and Thomas weren’t with us so I was able to let Andrew sleep late.

As I let Andy sleep I paced the motel-room floor and prayed. This third game was significant for several reasons. Our team was undefeated so far in the tournament. This would be the toughest opponent we had faced to date and to keep our win/loss record we needed to come out swingin’ the bat.  Adding to the pressure…this opponent was the team that eliminated us the year before. But most of all I knew our team, including Andrew, has a hard time going the distance mentally; and baseball is mostly a mental game.

The manager and coaches talked to the boys about turning the page if an error was made. They told them one mistake does not a failure make. They taught them to take calming breaths. To step out of the batters box if they needed a second. To keep their heads up if they struck out.

As I paced and prayed my first prayer was something along the lines of ‘We have a score to settle I hope we cram the ball down their throats and win-win-win!’ I then decided it was probably more Christ-like to pray ‘Help our boys play to the best of their ability. Help them block the negativity that runs through their minds after they strike out or bobble the ball.’ 

We were up to bat first as we were the guest/away team. By the middle of the fifth inning (out of six) we were behind 2 to 4. When we took the field for the bottom of the fifth our team was visibly defeated; their shoulders were down their energy had dissipated. They had given up. Several things took the boys out of the game mentally. Earlier in the game our pitcher was hit on the right side of his chest with a line-drive. There was an error or two made by the infielders as he went down. Luckily he was fine (he was ok enough he wanted to pitch the rest of the game), but I was not sure our infielders were ever going to recover from their errors and it showed. I was seated outside the centerfield fence and their body language screamed defeat.

I silently prayed “This is not what I asked you for Lord! I don’t understand! Look at how mentally defeated these boys are!” I just shook my head. At this point this momma’s heart was no longer concerned with winning but concerned about the boys giving in to discouragement and defeat. I wanted them to keep their heads up.

The top of the sixth came around. Our bats came alive! We tied it up! 4 to 4! Bottom of the sixth came around and we held them! We were onto extra innings!

We scored four runs in the top of the seventh! Electricity was in the air! 8 to 4 was now the score! Bottom of the seventh…the other team scored two runs but that was it. We won! 8 to 6! It was spectacular!

I was so thrilled. To me winning this game against this opponent was more important than winning the championship game.

Later that afternoon as I was walking up the stairs to my motel room I reflected on the events of the day. How the kids had given up before a spectacular ending to a seemingly impossible game. In my spirit I heard these words “How many times do you give up before you see the spectacular DenaRae?” and it almost took my breath away.

I was teary as I thought about the times I get discouraged and quit. Or almost quit. I was reminded about the times I haven’t quit when I wanted to and how there is a sweetness to perseverance.

I had a pastor who quoted Galatians 6:9 almost every Sunday. In fact I used to let it go in one ear and out the other but in recent years it comes to my mind with a value that is hard to express. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Gal. 6:9 NIV

My job situation right now is in limbo. There are several other areas of my life I feel like are not moving forward. I find myself easily discouraged. I need to learn to go the distance mentally. I need to learn to not give up but to stay the course; to set my face like stone on the One above, and not get weary in well doing. I don’t want to miss the spectacular!