Daily Bread, Thursday, April 12, 2007An Exercise In Futility
Neal Pollard
Neal Pollard
You can place the 2007 Washington Nationals among some conspicuous company as they have gotten off to a torrid 1-8 start in baseball's National League East. This year's Nationals have only had one lead in their first nine ballgames, a distinction they share only with the 1884 Detroit Wolverines. They have not scored a run in the first three innings of each ball game, a dubious "honor" they share in the storied records of baseball with your 1931 Cincinatti Reds. These are just different ways of telling you, "The 2007 Washington Nationals look awful."
It must be frustrating to be one of the players and especially to be Manager Manny Acta. These guys are not just losing, they are being embarrassed. They are being outplayed. Losing is no fun, even, I imagine, if you are getting paid the big bucks.
Have you ever been on a losing streak? It may have been regarding your finances, maybe in your search for Mister or Miss Right, maybe in your career, or maybe with regard to some other goal or interest. It is frustrating when nothing seems to go right. Nobody enjoys feeling like a "loser," though that image may be one you place on yourself that no one else does. At times, down days descend in droves. What do you do when you feel like you are struggling in last place?
Acta is probably telling his guys to go out there tonight and keep doing those little things you do to win ball games. He is likely telling his hitters to loosen up and keep looking for their pitch. He's telling the pitchers to make their pitch and trust the defense. He's probably telling the defense to play loose and pick each other up. He's telling his team to play as a team and not look at the league standings or the scoreboard. I don't know that he's telling them that, but that's normally what managers are supposed to say to struggling teams and their players.
That's the way you should look at your personal slumps. Realize that they come and be thankful that they also go. Keep putting Christ first, trusting and obeying Him and trying to serve Him. Find spiritual areas where you can involve yourself and soon your "slide" will end. Nobody wins them all. Most of us do not win most of them. Just remember that if you are a faithful Christian, you will ultimately win the greatest prize of all time and eternity.
It must be frustrating to be one of the players and especially to be Manager Manny Acta. These guys are not just losing, they are being embarrassed. They are being outplayed. Losing is no fun, even, I imagine, if you are getting paid the big bucks.
Have you ever been on a losing streak? It may have been regarding your finances, maybe in your search for Mister or Miss Right, maybe in your career, or maybe with regard to some other goal or interest. It is frustrating when nothing seems to go right. Nobody enjoys feeling like a "loser," though that image may be one you place on yourself that no one else does. At times, down days descend in droves. What do you do when you feel like you are struggling in last place?
Acta is probably telling his guys to go out there tonight and keep doing those little things you do to win ball games. He is likely telling his hitters to loosen up and keep looking for their pitch. He's telling the pitchers to make their pitch and trust the defense. He's probably telling the defense to play loose and pick each other up. He's telling his team to play as a team and not look at the league standings or the scoreboard. I don't know that he's telling them that, but that's normally what managers are supposed to say to struggling teams and their players.
That's the way you should look at your personal slumps. Realize that they come and be thankful that they also go. Keep putting Christ first, trusting and obeying Him and trying to serve Him. Find spiritual areas where you can involve yourself and soon your "slide" will end. Nobody wins them all. Most of us do not win most of them. Just remember that if you are a faithful Christian, you will ultimately win the greatest prize of all time and eternity.
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