The region where I have lived has been an area in which most little boys will play little league baseball. They may not play every year, but most will try it for a year or two. I grew up playing little league baseball. My kids played little league baseball. Now I have some grandchildren who play little league baseball. Perhaps it is a declining percentage of kids that play now, but it is something I have been around throughout my life.
Anyone who has coached little kids in baseball or even watched it, knows that the kids will come in all sizes, shapes, intensity levels, skills, and levels of interest. Some will be “all in,” will cry when they lose and know exactly where their team is in the standings. Others may chase birds or look for 4-leaf clovers in the field, be glad to “sit out” as much as necessary, and rarely know who won the game when it is finished. And there are always those kids that will never swing the bat.
Some kids will swing the bat poorly, weakly, and without purpose, but some won’t swing. Though not usually the most talented players by any means, sometimes these kids who never swing are interested in the game. They may be very much wanting to win. At certain ages, when the little boys first begin to actually pitch, it is pretty hard for a pitcher to throw three strikes before throwing four balls. Some batters realize they will almost always get on base if they never swing. The percentages are in their favor that they will get a “walk” to first when four balls are thrown before striking out when three strikes have been thrown. They have determined they will rarely make an out and always get on base, as long as they never swing. They will never have the thrill of hitting the ball or getting a double, triple, or home run, but they won’t run the risk of making an out. They decide to forfeit their opportunity for thrilling success, to avoid the possibility of disappointing failure. They just won’t swing the bat.
As a little league coach, I tried to get every player to swing the bat. I wanted them to try to hit and encouraged them to “take the risk, and swing.” No kid will ever remember one of the hundreds of times they got on base by a walk, but they would remember a solid hit that rolled to the fence! One good hit is worth more than dozens of walks, as far as joyful memories are concerned.
I believe God is right now encouraging us to swing the bat. He desires for us to experience the exhilaration that comes from walking by faith, not by sight. He wants us to swing the bat. God desires for us to experience the deep satisfaction that comes from making a difference in someone’s life, even in their eternity. God wants us to swing the bat. He desires for us to experience the joy of knowing our life has made a kingdom impact and that what we have done matters deeply. God wants us to swing the bat. Maybe it is a small group to join or a Sunday School class to teach - swing the bat. Perhaps it is tithing or some other aspect of stewardship - swing the bat. It could be sharing your faith with a friend or going on that short-term mission trip - swinging the bat. It may feel a little uncertain or even a little scary, but taking a swing is far better than spending our entire lives with the bat on our shoulder, watching opportunity after opportunity pass us by. Swing the bat.
This is not an encouragement to be foolish. Every pitch that is thrown is not a good pitch to swing. Wisdom and discernment are necessary. It is foolish to swing at every pitch, but it is tragic to never take a swing. Swing the bat for the glory of God.
As Lent commences on Ash Wednesday, we are entering a time of introspection and prayer leading to Easter. Let us reflect on the significance of death preceding resurrection, urging readers to embrace a daily practice of surrendering self in preparation for our spiritual transformation.