Lessons from Little League
Do not despise these small beginnings…
Zechariah 4:10 NLT
Last Saturday we attended the opening day game for our 9-year-old grandson, Nolan. Though it was freezing cold, and we shivered through those two hours, it was Little League Baseball at its finest.
Nolan pitched for the first time and struggled to find the plate. In his two at-bats he didn’t connect (though he did walk, round the bases, and eventually score). And, in the end, his team lost.
Nonetheless, it was a good time for us to share. In reflecting on the day, and in reading an article from a Little League mom, I’ve come up with some lessons that Little League can teach us.
1. Nobody starts in the Majors.
Little League has a series of stages that must be gone through before one makes the “majors.” It begins with t-ball…then pitching from the coach… then a pitching machine…then pitching from an opponent as one advances to the “minors.” Finally, after about six years, a player can move to the “majors.”
In short, Little League teaches that you need to crawl before you can walk and walk before you can run. To lower your expectations in the beginning and trust the developmental process.
This is true for any job or talent you attempt. Nobody starts in the majors. Therefore, in the words of the prophet Zechariah, “Despise not small beginnings.”
And it’s also true in your spiritual walk. Don’t be discouraged by your baby steps or intimidated by the more seasoned players. Rather, learn from those farther along, do what you can to improve, and be patient.
2. Keep your eyes on the ball and listen to your coach.
During a Little League game, you’ll hear parents constantly yelling, “Watch the ball.” And that’s good counsel. Whether at the plate or in the field, good players never lose sight of the ball.
However, there are also those times when well-meaning parents offer short-sighted counsel that is at odds with the coach and his wisdom. Good players know that the coach has experience and perspective and learn to tune out other voices.
In life and ministry, we need to keep our eyes on the ball. Scripture calls it “the prize.” Focus on what’s important and don’t get distracted.
Moreover, we need to recognize the voice of our “coach,” the Holy Spirit, above all others. He is the One who offers perfect guidance.
3. Determine to either get a hit or go down swinging.
In Little League, the greatest fear is striking out. That being the case, all too many youngsters nervously stand at the plate never taking the bat off their shoulder and pray for a walk.
Here’s a tip worth remembering: You can’t hit a ball you don’t swing at. Read that again…slowly. Sure, you may miss. You may even strike out. But then, you also may connect.
The highest career batting average in MLB belongs to Ty Cobb at .366. This means he got a hit roughly 110 times out of every 300 at-bats. Think about that! He missed far more than he hit, and his average is the all-time best!
In life, you have to be willing to miss if you want to win the game. Your proposal will be denied; your attempt to begin a business will fail; that relationship won’t work out; that ministry dream won’t be realized.
We need to shake off the misses and keep on swinging. And, by the way, even when you make a hit, it might not be a home run. But then, any sort of hit is progress so don’t be deflated if you don’t get it out of the park.
4. Learn to live with bad calls.
One element of any sport that has a huge impact on the outcome of the game is the umpire or referee. Some make good calls. On other occasions, the official makes bad, even unfair, calls.
Success is realized when you enjoy the good calls and endure the bad calls. You can argue a bad call until you are blue in the face. Or you can make the best of it and move on.
In life, you are going to have some bad calls. Someone does something unfair to you. Someone takes advantage of you. Someone wrongly accuses you of something.
Walking by faith includes knowing that life isn’t always fair. But in the end, you will be rightly treated by the One who sees all and doesn’t make any mistakes.
5. Enjoy the “goodies” that are offered whether you win or lose the game.
I had to chuckle at how Nolan’s team had such long faces as they grappled with defeat. The coaches did their best to encourage the boys, some of whom were wiping away tears.
Then the coaches said, “Now, who’s ready for the snacks?” Cheers erupted as the team raced to the coolers. And by the time Gwen and I got to Nolan he was all smiles as he opened up his treasures.
Even when we face some losses in the game of life, there are still some goodies to be celebrated. How it felt to give something your best shot. The joy you found in working together with teammates. The laughter that was shared along the way.
We’re going to enjoy seeing our grandson play more games in the weeks ahead. And I really do hope he strikes out some batters and gets some hits. I even hope he wins some games.
However, I hope that he learns some of these lessons as well. And I hope that you and I do too.
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