The Unexpected Power of Grace and Humility
Did God hit a home run?
I watched a baseball game yesterday, and a player hit a home run. As he crossed home plate, he pointed up, and I would assume he was pointing up to God and thanking God for the home run.
I wondered if he’d been praying to hit a home run.
Of course, he may not have been thanking or acknowledging God at all. He might have been pointing to a family member or friend who had passed on.
“Hey, thank you very much, sis!”
“That one was for you, Grandma!”
“I will hit a homer every home game for you, dear cousin.”
But let’s assume it was a thank-you to God for providing the player with supernatural power to hit that home run.
Here’s a philosophical question:
Why did God favor the home-run hitter, not the pitcher?
Maybe the pitcher thought he could pitch 27 outs without divine intervention. Could that be?
Picture a scenario where the pitcher is an atheist and the batter, a devoted Christian, says, “God, you said ask and you will receive, seek and you will find. I am asking now for the power to hit a home run. Thank you!”
So, just like that, he hits one out of the park.
But wait, can you imagine a world where every person who believed in God and followed all his rules to the letter received every favor asked of God?
Would every person be rich and live to be 212? That’d be okay, I suppose, since everyone could pray for a never-ending food supply, no sickness, no war, and more land to build houses on for all the people who live 140 years past their life expectancy.
However, let’s raise the stakes in this batter versus pitcher scenario.
Suppose the pitcher, before facing the batter, prayed, “God, let me strike him out, so I can continue thriving in my career. I need to keep my salary so that I can support my family. Please allow me to strike this player out. Another home run means demotion; career’s done.”
What if, before that inning, the batter prayed, “Dear Lord, I must hit a home run to secure my spot in the lineup and thrive this season, to keep earning my salary and avoid being cut from this team. I need this for my family.”
Who does God favor?
“Okay, fellas, I’m giving you both a jolt of supernatural ability, but you must use your free will to execute that power better than your opponent. Got it? Also, I’d appreciate a show of humility!”
Maybe God favored both, but the batter focused more, resulting in success on that pitch. The players needed to supplement the abilities God gave with practice, determination, and faith.
God can’t control every aspect of our lives, can he?
If he did, we wouldn’t be human.
In summary, it’s terrific that the player thanked any entity. I think it’s wonderful that he doesn’t take all the credit.
Maybe he was saying, “I am not bigger than God, nor am I more significant than any other person. I am very fortunate to be in the batter’s box, wearing a Major League uniform on a beautiful spring day. I’m thankful I could see spin and movement on a 95-mph baseball. I appreciate that my skills enabled me to hit that ball with my wooden stick and make it fly over the fence. I thank God for that. I thank life for that.”
I like that idea. I like the idea that people give credit to God. Why not? I thank God every day for giving me a new day to live.
I’m grateful for my life.
Imagine if certain leaders, who don’t, showed humility and graciousness toward their position and the powers that come with it.
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