The World Series
The World Series has begun. That's serious business at the Maat residence. Both Wes and I are huge fans of the sport with four bases and nine innings.
Are you aware how many phrases we use in everyday life come from the world of baseball? Batting a thousand. Hitting it out of the park. Covering all the bases. Being thrown a curveball. Stepping up to the plate.
And then there is that phrase that has actually become a metaphor upon which to assess someone's success or failure: Three Strikes --You're Out. Whether as a standard for habitual offenders or the number of times we are willing to allow a child to misbehave before calling for a "time out", the phrase has come to mean that the jig is up. No more leniency. No more chances.
A different approach
How different this is from the approach Jesus took with one of his "learners" -- Peter. The night before Jesus went on trial, Peter denied three times that he knew his friend. After Jesus' resurrection, he set up a special session with Peter. This encounter is documented in the gospel of John, chapter 21:
15 After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”
17-19 Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Three Strikes - You're On
How gracious is Jesus to help Peter deal with his three failures. Jesus overlays each failure with a reminder that he has not been kicked off the team. In fact, he is "up to bat." There are sheep to be fed and lambs to be shepherded.
I'm not sure it makes any sense to change the rules of baseball. If you miss the ball three times, it is probably time to go back to the dugout and re-group. But what I love about baseball is that no matter how many times you strike out, there's always another chance. Your turn will come up again and this time -- you just might hit the game-winning home run.
May God give us all the grace to head out to the ballpark every day and keep swinging.
Reflection Questions Have you ever had a string of failures or a big one that made you question yourself? What meaning does that story create for you?
How can you allow Spirit to overlay your experience with one that empowers and equips you for service?
What kind of mindset do you need to adopt to step back out on the field after a disappointing experience and play ball?
The World Series has begun. That's serious business at the Maat residence. Both Wes and I are huge fans of the sport with four bases and nine innings.
Are you aware how many phrases we use in everyday life come from the world of baseball? Batting a thousand. Hitting it out of the park. Covering all the bases. Being thrown a curveball. Stepping up to the plate.
And then there is that phrase that has actually become a metaphor upon which to assess someone's success or failure: Three Strikes --You're Out. Whether as a standard for habitual offenders or the number of times we are willing to allow a child to misbehave before calling for a "time out", the phrase has come to mean that the jig is up. No more leniency. No more chances.
A different approach
How different this is from the approach Jesus took with one of his "learners" -- Peter. The night before Jesus went on trial, Peter denied three times that he knew his friend. After Jesus' resurrection, he set up a special session with Peter. This encounter is documented in the gospel of John, chapter 21:
15 After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”
17-19 Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Three Strikes - You're On
How gracious is Jesus to help Peter deal with his three failures. Jesus overlays each failure with a reminder that he has not been kicked off the team. In fact, he is "up to bat." There are sheep to be fed and lambs to be shepherded.
I'm not sure it makes any sense to change the rules of baseball. If you miss the ball three times, it is probably time to go back to the dugout and re-group. But what I love about baseball is that no matter how many times you strike out, there's always another chance. Your turn will come up again and this time -- you just might hit the game-winning home run.
May God give us all the grace to head out to the ballpark every day and keep swinging.
Reflection Questions Have you ever had a string of failures or a big one that made you question yourself? What meaning does that story create for you?
How can you allow Spirit to overlay your experience with one that empowers and equips you for service?
What kind of mindset do you need to adopt to step back out on the field after a disappointing experience and play ball?
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