LESSONS FROM OMAHA AND SCRIPTURE
Admittedly, I'm not much of a college baseball fan. Not because I don't love baseball...it's just that college baseball has never caught my attention in the way that major league baseball has over the years. However, I do like to keep up with what's going on as it relates to our local sports teams, so I have been keeping an eye on things from Omaha as it relates to LSU's appearance in this year's College World Series.
Last night, in the midst of several other things, I kept track of LSU's game against UCLA, a game that LSU lost because of two unearned runs scored off two Tiger errors in the field. Judging from my Facebook feed during and after the game, many Tiger fans were bemoaning the fact that, in their eyes, LSU gave the game away because of their mistakes, mistakes compounded in many way by the reality that the Tigers are one of the best baseball teams (and programs) in the country.
The chatter got me thinking, though, about the effects of our unforced errors in our lives and the lives of those around us. Some things are obvious, like drunk driving. When someone chooses to get behind the wheel after having too many, that unforced error in many cases leads to tragic consequences.
But what about our unforced errors that no one can see? Do we realize the detrimental effects of unseen behavior (or non-behavior) in ourselves and those around us?
When we neglect our discipline of prayer, do we understand that by failing to allow God to work within us through talking and listening to the Divine we are not as spiritually mature as we could be otherwise?
What about our worship habits? Do we realize that through the routine of worshiping together each week we encounter God's grace through the gathered community, encountering the word read and proclaimed, responding to that word, and being sent out?
We have been taught, by direction and example throughout scripture, that immersing ourselves in the sacred text is part and parcel of our growth as Christians. Do we truly comprehend the development that results by becoming more and more familiar with God as revealed in the Bible?
I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. This is not a "You're no good if you neglect these things" list. No, indeed.
What it is, though, is a reminder that when we commit unforced errors, it is detrimental to ourselves and those around us.
The good news, my friends, is that by grace we do not have to be afraid of making mistakes. Indeed, by God's love shown to us through Christ, carried on to this day by the Holy Spirit, we are forgiven, and called to accept this forgiveness as inspiration to carry on in ways that draw us and those around us closer to God.
What are some unforced errors that you could work on allowing God to fix in your life?
My prayer for us all this week is that we will accept the grace given to us to live with fewer and fewer unforced errors every day, not by our own strength, but by God's love.
Grace and Peace, Lamar