Navigating Life's Curveballs

by Barbara Latta

"Play ball!” those words opened the season for Major League baseball last week.

In honor of a new season, I thought it would be fun to try our hand at some baseball trivia and also compare the mechanics of the game our lives.

Fastball

Making contact requires the batter to have a fast swing and superb hand-eye coordination.

Life at Bat: To hit the fast ball  thrown your way, have a prepared mind and swing out by putting to action a Word from God.

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:6)

 Curveball
A curveball arches down as it crosses the plate creating a slower effect which disrupts the hitters timing.

Life at Bat: You may be waiting for something that seems to take forever to manifest, don’t get disrupted by impatience.

“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.”  (Colossians 1:11)

Slider
The lateral motion makes it hard for the batter to time his swing to the pitch because it looks like it is coming in faster than it really is.

Life at Bat: Walk in wisdom and not as the world does, then your timing won’t be off in decisions you need to make.

“See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)

Knuckleball
The back and forth rocking of the knuckleball and unpredictable air bouncing makes it hard for even experienced hitters to make contact.

Life at Bat: Be consistent and don’t swing at the first thing that comes along. Keep your eyes in the center and don’t be swayed by something that looks real but isn’t.

“Beloved, do not believe every sprit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

Change Up
Delivered with the same kind of arm motion as a fastball, the change up makes its way to the catcher much more slowly. Usually this pitch is thrown after a fastball so as to upset the batter’s timing.

Life at Bat: God is consistent. He never changes. We can know Him by His Word.

“I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” (Malachi 3:6)

TRIVIA TEST:

Test your skills. The first person who comments with the most correct answers will win a copy of Betty Robison’s book, “Free to Be Me.” This is her testimony of how she navigated and overcame fear in her life. You must comment before the next post to win.

1. Against what opposing team did Babe Ruth hit his first career home run?

2. Who was the first Major League player to pitch a ball over 100 mph?

3. Who was the first Major League player to hit four home runs in a single game?

4. What player hit 70 home runs in 1998?

5. What was the first Major League team to wear plastic batting helmets?

6. Who was the first Major League player to have his number retired?

7. What baseball player was nicknamed "Charlie Hustle"?

The answers will be shared in next week's post.

In addition to answering the trivia test, feel free to share how you hit home runs when all these major pitches are thrown your way.