The pitch came on the rise, probably around 60-70 miles per hour. The batter, though, was focused, dug in and started to bring his hips around. His shoulders followed and the swing brought his hands through to rip one straight for the hole between second base and the second baseman.
Shortstop was idle. On the balls of his feet and prepared to go in any direction... quickly, he had his glove up, eyes up and spirits up.
The second baseman broke for the ball and made the stop. Shortstop, as well as the base runner on first, had already made their break for the second base bag. A quick toss from the second baseman sent the ball floating somewhere above second base rather than sailing into center field.
The shortstop deftly stepped behind the bag while catching the ball, drug his foot across it and fired it back to first and never broke stride.
Two down. Inning's over.
Sounds like a routine double play for any shortstop. Although, they make it look much easier than it is. But this wasn't just any shortstop playing ball. It was my Dad. And he's 57 years old.
Every time I tell a buddy that Dad had a game, they're incredulous. Hell most of them have been telling me that they're too old to keep playing and most of them are in their thirties.
Morgan's refusal to slowdown is becoming somewhat of a local legend. He has friends he grew up playing baseball with that go to the park to watch their boys play against Morgan. And you should hear the trash talk flyin'. ;)
He watched me play ball all the way through high school. But my days in Little League came rushing at me while I sat in the stands last Sunday morning.
Oh, how our perspective changes. I can't begin to count how many games my Dad and I spent in the reverse roll - him sitting in the stands hoping that the double play goes smoothly and me busting my rear trying to turn it. It was about time I was on the other side - paying back some of the support he had offered me so many times before.
That field was covered with men who truly - truly - understood and appreciated the game.
Little Leaguers are just figuring out the importance of winning. The group that I had the privilege of watching... was just starting to forget.
Somewhere in the middle we get focused on the wrong parts of life. Take a deep breath. Enjoy the game.
Showing posts with label Passion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Passion. Show all posts
Friday, September 11, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Warrior's Stones
Inevitably you've heard the term, "Grow a pair." I know it doesn't portray the most pleasant imagery, but there really is something to having a spine in today's society. There just aren't enough people around anymore that, when asked, speak their mind without reservation. Most folks these days fit into two categories:
Well, the soldiers in the last post - We are His Church...and Warriors - have some stones.
Yea, they have the figurative "pair" that more people today really need, but they also have a different set of stones. They immediately reminded me of David and so I went back and looked up the last chapter in a book I read recently. The chapter entitled, Goliath Down!, speaks of the ammunition David, as a shepherd, brought into battle with him. And I suspect our soldiers friends from We are His Church...and Warriors are packing them, too.
The Stone of the Past
Catalog God's successes in your life. Refuse to focus on your own failures.
Write today's worries in the sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.
The Stone of Prayer
Before every victory David experienced, he first went to God in prayer. Don't face your giant without first doing the same.
Peace is promised to the one who fixes thoughts and desires on the king.
The Stone of Priority
Think about your own reputation - how strongly you are affected by it - how strongly you defend it. David guarded God's reputation fiercely.
See your struggle as God's canvas. On it He will paint His multicolored supremacy.
The Stone of Passion
David ran, not away from, but toward his giant.
David lobotomized the giant because he emphasized the Lord.
The Stone of Persistence
Goliath had four T-Rex sized relatives. Who knew if they would come to Goliath's rescue. David didn't think one rock would do. He was ready to do it again. And again. . .
Never give up.
Further Reading:
- We are His church... and Warriors
- All of the italicized phrases are quotes from the book, Facing Your Giants: The God Who Made a Miracle Out of David Stands Ready to Make One Out of You
- the yammer on forever without ever being asked about everything because they're an expert category
- and the never say a word because i might offend somebody and so i'll go along with anything category
Well, the soldiers in the last post - We are His Church...and Warriors - have some stones.
Yea, they have the figurative "pair" that more people today really need, but they also have a different set of stones. They immediately reminded me of David and so I went back and looked up the last chapter in a book I read recently. The chapter entitled, Goliath Down!, speaks of the ammunition David, as a shepherd, brought into battle with him. And I suspect our soldiers friends from We are His Church...and Warriors are packing them, too.
Five Stones
The Stone of the Past
Catalog God's successes in your life. Refuse to focus on your own failures.
Write today's worries in the sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.
The Stone of Prayer
Before every victory David experienced, he first went to God in prayer. Don't face your giant without first doing the same.
Peace is promised to the one who fixes thoughts and desires on the king.
The Stone of Priority
Think about your own reputation - how strongly you are affected by it - how strongly you defend it. David guarded God's reputation fiercely.
See your struggle as God's canvas. On it He will paint His multicolored supremacy.
The Stone of Passion
David ran, not away from, but toward his giant.
David lobotomized the giant because he emphasized the Lord.
The Stone of Persistence
Goliath had four T-Rex sized relatives. Who knew if they would come to Goliath's rescue. David didn't think one rock would do. He was ready to do it again. And again. . .
Never give up.
Further Reading:
- We are His church... and Warriors
- All of the italicized phrases are quotes from the book, Facing Your Giants: The God Who Made a Miracle Out of David Stands Ready to Make One Out of You
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
All of this Will End -- Will you have what He gave you on the last day?
Don Lotspieche has a heart of gold and a personality that you can only shake your head and wonder about. He also has two boys. He's good to them and treats their friends like they're his as well.
One of those boys is one hell of an athlete. He's a football player. Football is huge in South Texas. And it's even bigger in Refugio. Well, there are other sports to play and Don was trying to convince one of his boys' friends to play baseball. The team needed another player, and this kid's dedication and athletic ability made him a pretty big target for everybody's recruiting efforts. ;)
Just to let you know what kind of boy this is, know this. He read about two-a-days in the local newspaper and so when the day rolled around, he went to practice. He started in with all of the other kids until one of the coaches had to pull him aside.
"Two-a-days are for highschool only, " coach informed him.
He's in the seventh grade. He wakes up at night to lift weights. He goes to two-a-days anyway and works out while the older boys practice. Then, when the first session is over and they run wind sprints, he gets in line and runs too. After that he goes back to lifting and waits for the second session to end so he can run again with "the big boys".
Well Don, in wisdom like only Don has, laid one on him right before little league started. Don's not the most wealthy man in the world, and the boy is not very well off either.
"You need to play ball, " he said.
"Nope. I don't like baseball. I'm a football player, " came the reply.
"You see this fifty dollar bill? This fifty says you're gonna play baseball, " Don told him, "And if you keep it until the end of the year, I'll give you another one."
The deal was on. He played ball and Don payed up. The end of the year rolled around and when Don asked about that fifty the kid reached into his pocket on the spot and, along with his toothy grin, showed it to Don.
Then he told Don not to pay him the other fifty. He only needed one I guess.
In today's readings John quotes Christ as saying, "And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day."
Too many times I find that people, including myself, let things they are passionate about or very talented at fall into the hazy oblivion that is 'real life'. And it's so true that if you don't use it, you lose it. Our Lord grants us passion and desire for things for a reason. On the last day, when you get put on the spot, will you raise up those things He gave to you?
Related Reading
- Thursday story that sheds some more light on Don, in case you don't know him.
- It's Ringing . . . Answer Him: A post encouraging action and passion
One of those boys is one hell of an athlete. He's a football player. Football is huge in South Texas. And it's even bigger in Refugio. Well, there are other sports to play and Don was trying to convince one of his boys' friends to play baseball. The team needed another player, and this kid's dedication and athletic ability made him a pretty big target for everybody's recruiting efforts. ;)
Just to let you know what kind of boy this is, know this. He read about two-a-days in the local newspaper and so when the day rolled around, he went to practice. He started in with all of the other kids until one of the coaches had to pull him aside.
"Two-a-days are for highschool only, " coach informed him.
He's in the seventh grade. He wakes up at night to lift weights. He goes to two-a-days anyway and works out while the older boys practice. Then, when the first session is over and they run wind sprints, he gets in line and runs too. After that he goes back to lifting and waits for the second session to end so he can run again with "the big boys".
Well Don, in wisdom like only Don has, laid one on him right before little league started. Don's not the most wealthy man in the world, and the boy is not very well off either.
"You need to play ball, " he said.
"Nope. I don't like baseball. I'm a football player, " came the reply.
"You see this fifty dollar bill? This fifty says you're gonna play baseball, " Don told him, "And if you keep it until the end of the year, I'll give you another one."
The deal was on. He played ball and Don payed up. The end of the year rolled around and when Don asked about that fifty the kid reached into his pocket on the spot and, along with his toothy grin, showed it to Don.
Then he told Don not to pay him the other fifty. He only needed one I guess.
In today's readings John quotes Christ as saying, "And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day."
Too many times I find that people, including myself, let things they are passionate about or very talented at fall into the hazy oblivion that is 'real life'. And it's so true that if you don't use it, you lose it. Our Lord grants us passion and desire for things for a reason. On the last day, when you get put on the spot, will you raise up those things He gave to you?
Related Reading
- Thursday story that sheds some more light on Don, in case you don't know him.
- It's Ringing . . . Answer Him: A post encouraging action and passion
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Palm Sunday: No Happy Endings, Only New Beginnings
Today's Readings prepare us for the holy week approaching as Easter Sunday draws near. They share a message of self-sacrifice, which is what Lent is all about, and the Passion.
Fr. Ed delivered a wonderful message. Beginnings.
Green horses, young horses and finished horses leave the barn for a new home when their time has come. Clients will arrive with high hopes, watch their prized possession go through the motions and then load up and head out. It usually goes well and there's another happy ending.
Well, Fr. Ed gave me a new way to think about it today. It also applies to just about everything else in my life . . . and yours. There is no ending for that horse that leaves. Only a beginning. The beginning of its relationship with someone else.
I'm left to focus on what's to come for the horse instead of what has been. And with other circumstances in life, it's the same. A whole different mindset. With every change from now on, I'll be eagerly anticipating where Our Lord is leading me now. Close your eyes and take that step. Or Leap. A leap of faith into your new beggining.
Fr. Ed delivered a wonderful message. Beginnings.
Green horses, young horses and finished horses leave the barn for a new home when their time has come. Clients will arrive with high hopes, watch their prized possession go through the motions and then load up and head out. It usually goes well and there's another happy ending.
Well, Fr. Ed gave me a new way to think about it today. It also applies to just about everything else in my life . . . and yours. There is no ending for that horse that leaves. Only a beginning. The beginning of its relationship with someone else.
I'm left to focus on what's to come for the horse instead of what has been. And with other circumstances in life, it's the same. A whole different mindset. With every change from now on, I'll be eagerly anticipating where Our Lord is leading me now. Close your eyes and take that step. Or Leap. A leap of faith into your new beggining.
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