A Few Life Lessons From Baseball

This time of year is one of my favorite because the boys are playing the great american past time. Baseball is more than a fun activity that occurs every summer and fall.  It's one of the best life lesson teachers of all time.  Tonight our baseball team played a game.  Though they lost, my son and I had one of "those" conversations about life afterwards.  Here are a few things that we discussed about life vs. baseball.

1.  Money is not handed out like walks. 

The world is only going to be more difficult in the future.  Sometimes it is easy to step up to the plate and take a walk - playing cautiously because of a fear of striking out.  But the worst of all strike outs is to stand there and watch strike three that goes right down the plate.  Albert Einstein once said, "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Baseball is not just about getting on base - it's about how you get on base.  Walks are a part of the game but they are not the goal of the game.  The goal of the game is to learn to hit the pitch.

Life is going to give our boys lots of opportunities to succeed.  Pitch after pitch.  Chance after chance.  If we never learn to take a risk, never learn to swing, we will miss the opportunities that are the key to unlocking Destiny's path.  No one is going to give you anything because you are patient.  You have to learn when to swing.

2.  The fundamentals will make you or break you.

In baseball, fundamentals are incredibly important.  On fly balls, your first step is always back.  On ground balls, position the ball between your feet, keep you rear down and glove on the ground.  When you run the bases keep you eye on the bag and your coach.  In baseball, fundamentals will either make you or break you.  They can be your friend or your worst enemy.  If you play with the right fundamentals, you increase your chances to win because you will do the little things right.

Life is the same way.  Don't spend more than you make.  Don't spend everything you make - learn to save.  Work hard everyday and earn the breath you breathe.  Don't be lazy because lazy people will not prosper.  The Bible even teaches it's the little foxes that can spoil the vineyard (Song of Solomon 2:15 NLT).  If you don't get the basics of hard work down you will never make a living for yourself or be able to take care of a family.

3.  Baseball happens between the lines.

It's amazing how many people know how to play baseball and how few people really play the game of baseball.  It doesn't matter how well you know the rules.  If you are going to really undertand the game, you have step inside the lines.  You have to get your jersey dirty while stealing second base.  You have to get hit with a pitch in the back if that what it takes to get on base.  You have to get a hit in the bottom of the 3rd with 2 on and 2 strikes and 2 outs.  You have be that catcher who catches the relay and tags the last guy out sliding in at home.  You can read books and watch movies but to really understand the game and learn all it can teach you, you have to play the game.

Life itself is a wonderful teacher.  But you only learn from it's instruction by getting in the middle of it and digging out your space.  It's not going to be given to you but if you learn the rules, apply solid fundamentals, and play the game with heart, you can become a success. And as a Christian, to be a success for the glory of God, thats the grand slam, baby.

 

Comments

[True Religion Outlet]

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[Christian Louboutin Outlet]

We walked in still not telling them about the party. Aleah figured it out when she saw our Wish granters come in their Make a Wish t-shirts....she squeeled and ran up and gave each of them a hug! It took Gabriella a little longer to connect everything. While waiting for the last guests to arrive, the girls had a ton of fun playing at the arcade. We had trouble getting them to come back to the suite to eat supper until I told Gabriella that she could probably open up her backpack. When we had set our stuff down in our party room the girls had noticed two backpacks sitting there. Gabriella goes "You mean those backpacks are for us?!?" Yes, she's a little slow sometimes. Maybe it's all the drugs she's had?