October 30 – “Closer to you …”

Our oldest grandson Jachin had a baseball game last night.  That meant a trip into Texas to Houston’s Memorial Park.  And by the way, we were apparently just on its edge, but that is one big park.  I’ve never seen aerial photos of it like the ones you see on TV all the time of Central Park in New York, but I wonder if it is comparable?  It is certainly used as a jogging trail by lots of aspiring athletes of all shapes and sizes. 

The game was kind of a tough one for Jachin and his boys.  They are a homeschool JV team, and their opponent turned out to be a varsity team.  Three of the opposing players have already signed for scholarships to division one colleges.  Needless to say, the score was a bit lopsided.  18 to 1 I think was the final.  Jachin had one putout on a good stretch in his stint as the first baseman.  He drew a walk and struck out in his times at bat.  He said the pitcher threw “pretty fast.”  I told him to think like Kyle Tucker of the Astros.  He is a youngster in their farm system who hit so well that he got called up to the big league club.  And all he did was work hard at hitting and keep swinging.  Jachin reminded me that he didn’t do so well when he got to the major leagues.  Beside the point.  Listen to what you said … “when he got to the major leagues.”  He got there.  And he will continue to get better.  So can you.  I know.  Easy for me to say.  I’m not the one standing there when the ball is coming at me ninety miles an hour.  But, hey.  Seeing those things is the job of the coach.  Or an old fan …

Psalms 108:5 says, “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth.”

Father, be with Jachin as he grows and learns.  Always draw him and his teammates closer to you than to baseball … or anything else for that matter.  Amen.