聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥淪ee that fella over there? He鈥檚 20 years old. In 10 years, he鈥檚 got a chance to be a star. Now that fella over there, he鈥檚 20 years old, too. In 10 years he鈥檚 got a chance to be 30,鈥� said Casey Stengal.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Stengal wasn鈥檛 talking about the Toronto Blue Jays鈥� Troy Tulowitski. On August 28, in what could have been the turning point of the game, Tulowitski went to the mound and talked to the pitcher, and the catcher joined them. The Jays went on to win the game. Tulowitski did the same thing on August 29. Jays won again.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The maxim that great players make everyone around them better transcends all sports, and it is true in life鈥檚 game as well. That old song 鈥淭ake Me Out to the Ball Game鈥� can also be applied to the game of life.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭ake me out to the ball game
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭ake me out with the crowd鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It is so easy to follow the crowd, to 鈥渂uy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks鈥� and to root for the home team. It makes you want to never come back.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 We all get three strikes in the game. Actually the Lord gives us more chances, like 77 聽times seven chances. Wow! That increases our chances for the 鈥渇ortune and fame鈥� the song talks about.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Now if you want to be the star in your life, consider the above metaphor.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Church on Sunday is like a ball game, without the peanuts. And when did you last have a Cracker Jack, the one with the little prize inside?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 But Church is a treat. It is more inspiring than Troy Tulowitski. It gets you away from the hold the world has on you, brings you back to peace and brings back the healthy psyche of the soul.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Now what would Casey Stengal say about the average church-goer on Sunday morning? In 10 years, how much will his or her life have improved? If we live our lives with the intensity of Jason Grilli, the Toronto Blue Jays鈥� relief pitcher with the last 12 innings scoreless and with three walks and 14 strike-outs (as of August 28)?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Well, we could be more than just ten years older in ten years from now. And some of us may have left the game by then.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The song continues:
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎ll I need is just one chance
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 could hit a home run
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭here isn't anyone else like me
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淢aybe I'll go down in history!鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And that is so true! There is no one else like you and like me through all of history. Talk about the uniqueness of a snowflake. You bet we can be stars at that old ball game.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jesus said to St. Peter, 鈥淚f you build it, they will come.鈥�
