Listen to Your Heavenly Coach
“It’s finally true. I think I’m too old for T-Ball.” I said these words over ten years ago as one of my grandsons began his baseball career. Oh, I didn’t mean I was literally too old. I meant I was too old to watch the shenanigans that go on during a t-ball game. Let me explain.
First of all, I love seeing young kids develop athletically and learn how to work together. I love the feel of the ballpark, with little children playing tag under the bleachers and grandparents in lawn chairs cheering their future stars on to greatness. At least, I loved it until that first t-ball game of the season when my now 17 year old was five. I had prepared myself for kids running the wrong way a time or two. I was even prepared for one of them to cry and not want to run at all. That’s what T-ball is all about. I could handle that. But, that wasn’t all of it.
The game started with our team in the outfield, so things went fairly smoothly for a while. A few balls slipped through the tiny gloves of our little guys, but all in all, it was a decent showing. Then the other team took the field. Here’s what I wasn’t prepared for– a group of five years with no one in charge. When did we start putting children on the ball field and leave the coaches at home? I wondered. Don’t these coaches realize that they have a big responsibility; they are to guide our young people to be the future of America.
From the catcher who couldn’t stand still to all nine players running after one ball, it was complete chaos. Instead of enjoying the sights and sounds of America’s favorite pastime, I sat frustrated, wanting to take charge. Not just for my sake, but for the sake of the children. They were also frustrated. They didn’t know what to do, where to stand, or how to run. They were like lost sheep without a shepherd. Where was the coach? I asked myself.
But, wait, on closer inspection, there was a coach. I finally noticed him. He was the one yelling a child’s name with that child ignoring him completely. He was the one yelling, “Run, run,” but no one listened. A time or two, this man gently touched the shoulder of the child who was having trouble standing still, but the child wiggled anyway. At one point, this coach I barely saw, even ran after one little boy who ran to third base without ever going to first and second, but the child continued to run the wrong way. Yes, there was a coach; the kids just didn’t listen to him.
Oh, how God must feel! He yells, He touches gently, He runs beside us, but sometimes we just don’t listen. Jesus said in John 8:47, “He who belongs to God, hears what God says.” The t-ball team wasn’t a team of sheep without a shepherd; they were simply sheep not listening to their shepherd. And when that happens, chaos does occur.
Have you been there? I have. You and I have a coach who has all the answers and sometimes we don’t listen. This might be a great time to just close your eyes and listen to God. I know your days are crazy-busy and you don’t think you have time for this, but do it anyway. Close your eyes, relax, and let God speak good things into you. You see, God will help you round the bases and touch home plate everyday if you just let Him.
Have a great week listening to your heavenly coach! (And for the record, I still go to t-balls and I really do love it!)
