Christian Living

Doffing the Home Run Derby Completely

by Terry Barlow
08/03/18
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Sometimes we tend to approach the Christian life like a recent Home Run Derby I saw on television.  We think we have to hit a home run every time we are "up to bat."   Whether it be in our witness, or in our preaching, or counseling or teaching, or even in our singing or playing an instrument, or even in our performance at work, or maybe even in the mere telling of a joke or in an attempt at it, it simply isn't realistic to expect perfection every time or even every other time.  If perfection came that often it couldn't even be enjoyed, because such enjoyment necessitates contrast against the backdrop of less perfect demonstrations and approximations.

The Home Run Derby is controversial in that it causes some players to change their swings in order to accommodate or facilitate hitting the ball as far as possible.  In the process of doing that they can easily fall into bad habits of motion that are hard to break later,  when it is time to return to the regular season.  During the regular season these players are functioning as part of a team, but as participants in Home Run Derby they would necessarily be functioning more as individuals.  As part of a team a hitter wants to be patient and get on base whether by hit,  or the other team's error,  or  by a walk to move other teammates along who are already on base ahead of them, or to be moved along later oneself.  Sometimes a batter is hit by a pitch and gets on base that way, though that isn't what was originally intended.   Even if they are the first one on base attempting to start a rally they want to be part of a successful, unified group effort in order to win the game or "win" by  accomplishing a common goal in the workplace.

We are part of a team in the Body of Christ or perhaps in a place of employment,  each contributing with different strengths and diverse gifts which are all highlighted in different situations according to the need at a particular moment in time in a specific place.  The apostle Paul almost two thousand years ago in his letter to the Colossian church in the fourth chapter mentions about ten co-workers who are laboring and striving with him in the work of the ministry.  He commends in some way all of those workers except one, Demas,  who would later forsake him to indulge in the worldly pleasures of that day, pleasures not altogether different from our own day.

Be content then with ordinary singles, doubles, walks or even the undeserved honest benefit of another's error for the greater good of a team or family.  The "home runs" or bigger contributions will come, but in their own time and way.  We need not try to force them.  We need not try to alter the normal "swing" and rhythm of our daily lives so as to make room for them.  They have a way of doing that for themselves.