| | Speaking of Baseball & Being the Best! |
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Lou Gehrig was one of the best and most popular baseball players of all time. Fans thronged Yankee Stadium hoping to see him hit a home run. His popularity extended far beyond New York.
Once, the Yankees were playing a pre-season exhibition game against a university team in Texas. The score was tied 2 – 2 into the 7th inning. The tension mounted as the collegians got closer to a win or at least a tie against a professional team. Then Gehrig stepped to the plate with two runners on base. The count moved to three balls and two strikes. The local fans went wild. The pitcher paused and readied himself for the payoff pitch. After a long wait, he lobbed a slow ball tight across the middle of home plate. Gehrig cracked it over the left field fence.
The college team catcher was livid. He ran to the mound screaming at the pitcher. “You idiot! Why didn’t you watch my signal? He slapped it a mile!” “Yeah, I know,” replied the pitcher, “but I got to thinking. I’ll never pitch a big league game, and I’ll probably never see a game at Yankee Stadium. But I sure would like to the great Lou Gehrig knock one out of the park.”
That pitcher wanted to see the great ball player at his best. He was willing to sacrifice his own ego and reputation to let it happen. What if we in the church were willing to sacrifice our own leisure, pleasure and treasure to see God’s church “at its best?”
This is truly the life Jesus has called us to live. Jesus told His disciples, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:26b-28).
We are at our best when we are serving others. Through the example of Jesus, who sacrificed everything on our behalf, we learn of true love and true greatness. For this love and greatness is revealed through giving our all to others. May God grant us the willingness to sacrifice ourselves so that the Lord’s Church will be at its best.
Your fellow servant, Pastor Carr
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