Ever tune into a movie in the middle and wonder what is going on? I did
yesterday, but with the help of the description from the movie guide I figured
it out. Tom Ewell, a successful lawyer, was asked to manage his son’s Little
league team, and hoping it would draw him closer to his son, he took the job.
His wife Anne Francis, she of Honey West fame, kept score and the boys were
taught by him the basics of baseball. With an emphasis of playing fair, and you
may not win every game, but try your hardest. And have fun. Which they did,
have fun. Until in one game a smaller kid retaliated by pushing his catcher,
and the catcher pushed the smaller kid back. Kids being kids, a small melee
soon took place, and then parents being parents joined in, too. Later in the
locker room, the parents were upset the coach didn’t have his players retaliate,
but he rather had them try to break up the fracas. And when he gave them the
chance to pull their kids from the team if they didn’t like his coaching, they
all did.
But came back later for practice, and the season went on. They won some,
lost some, some were rained out, but the parents never forgot. It was about
winning at all costs, giving them bragging rights in their 1956 subdivision.
But in the last game of the year, against their arch rivals, the kids go out all
out to win, but do it by playing the game hard, like they were taught. And
found out how much fun they were having. They end up winning when the smallest
kid on the team is put in as a pinch runner, and keeps running, disregarding the
throws and finally scores. Playing hard as the coach had told him. They had
won, fair and square, and the kids were happy, the parents still sore, holding a
grudge. Then we fast forward to the coach’s home, and he is feeling sorry for
himself. He gave it his all, even gave up his vacation to Mexico to manage, and
no one seemed to care afterwards. Finally we get the happy ending we all love,
as the kids show up, they loved their coach, and took to heart what he taught
them. The parents showed up too, from the coach through their sons they too had
learned a lesson. And the kids gave him a stein he had wanted, and he was
offered to become scout leader. Much to the chagrin of his wife....who was to
feel abandoned again. But cheered up when told she could be den mother. Tough
choice of giving her up for a troop of boys, one brief shot of her in a a bubble
bath may have swayed my decision. And it all ended happily ever after. Just
like in real life, right?
I played a lot of soft ball in my day, but none so competitive as when I
played in a church league. These pious holy men in church became raving
fanatics one the field. Pastors who played were called names, ridiculed, and
some of the dirtiest ball I ever saw took place. The idea was to win at all
costs, and rather than representing your church, family, or even God, it was all
about the individuals, then the team. And once when reminded that you don’t win
every game, they fell onto scripture, incorrectly, and claimed as church
members, they should always win, because God always wins. And when reminded God
was God and they weren’t, men within the team started fighting with each other.
And the last thing we had was fun, and even though we won a championship one
year, the dissention among the players had spread to the wives, and to others in
the church. Suddenly brother so and so wasn’t so holy because he was a lousy
shortstop. The things of God became secondary, if at all. It was all about
winning, and sadly through winning it all, had lost something along the
way.
We were created in God’s image, lest we forget like these men did. We are
to be holy, but fortunately he added mercy and grace to the game plan. In being
holy, he expects us to be whole, to be like him, a whole person, the same one on
the field and off, as in church and at work. Or play. A whole person performs
the function we were created for, and we were created to be that expression of
God as a witness to others, to enjoy all the fruits of being a Christian.
Whole, which produces holiness. To not miss what he has planned for us, and to
be richly blessed, for as our heavenly father, he loves to bless us. So why not
let him?
We find that God is not interested in the things we do to try to please
him, but bring attention to ourselves, but he wants us to represent him. To
maybe be the only Bible some ever read, the only Jesus some may encounter, to be
a witness of him, not of us or our winning. He is interested in the character
within us, at church, at work, at home, and on the playing field. To be an
example of the wholeness of a living, loving God, who gave it all through his
son Jesus so we can be reunited with him. Only in Christ will we become whole,
and finally holy. And so he has put a hole in our heart, that only he can
wholly fill. That without his fulfilling it, we can never be whole or holy. No
matter how great a team, church, or record you have. Without Jesus you can
never be whole.
And his desire is we become holy because he is holy. So take heed to the
things the spirit shows you, stand against wrong, stand up for the right, but do
it in love. God has taught us through his word the things we should avoid and
why. Yet many feel they are above God, it will never happen to me because I’m
saved, I can do what I want. And suffer, if only because they went astray, not
doing what Jesus showed us, what God wants. The same God who brought the
Israelites out of captivity, who fed them manna, and who sent Jesus, has given
us his spirit, but also a choice. For true love demands a choice. We can be
holy, or unholy. Sadly the team I played on was unholy, and men I respected at
church lost all my respect after one season. Teaching me many lessons, among
them forgiveness. And we don’t get to heaven as a team, family, or even a
church, it is our choice to follow God or not. You choose, he leaves it up to
you.
Funny but maybe not, how a secular movie showed me things about being
holy. That is the holy spirit, wishing to make us whole. Winning may be
everything to some, but God is more interested in how you play the game. In
every contest, every game, every decision there is a choice to make. Choose to
be holy, as God desires, and find when you make him the desire of your heart,
holiness follows. You cannot teach it, learn it, buy or sell it. For like
grace, it is a gift from God via his spirit, you must experience it. In the
movie, the kids got it, the parents took a little longer. Do not neglect the
children or hinder them from seeking Jesus. “Come as children,” he advises, if
we could only see God as children do, maybe we would listen more. It was
prophesied “a child will lead you,” if it works on the playing field, imagine
what it can do in your personal life! Through a son, we are taught about the
father. The spirit is willing, are you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com