EnWords: The Greatest Homerun

The Greatest Homerun Ever Hit

The score was 6 to 8 and we had the 6. We had been beating everyone in our league and this small weaker team was about to defeat us. There were a couple of innings left, but time was about to expire. We had to score at least two runs to keep the game going past this inning and give us a chance to win. We were at the top of the league, and a loss here could take us out of contention for the championship. We were doing everything we could to encourage every player that came to bat, but nothing was working. Then, one of our better players came to bat. Steak dinners, all the hamburgers you can eat, ice cream by the gallons and such were promised for a homerun or even a double since the bases were loaded. This guy was a long ball hitter and had hit them out before. The bases were loaded and this was the best opportunity to win the game.

The slugger dug in at the plate. He swung the bat a couple of times and looked out at his target, the left field fence. It was formidable. On top of a standard five-foot fence, two six-foot chicken wire fences had been installed because of complaints by homeowners across from the softball field. The ball would have to clear 17 feet. There were a couple of pitches, I don’t remember exactly how many. I would like to say that he was waiting for the right pitch, but in actuality, he was simply waiting for any pitch in the strike zone. He was not a great hitter, but had strength and always tried to hit the ball hard, figuring if it went far enough and/or fast enough, the defense would not catch it. That was the strategy that night and on the third or fourth pitch, everything came together. It was such a great feeling as I watched the ball still climbing as it crossed over the fence. It was ultimately found in the backyard of a house across the street from the field. There was a great celebration at home plate with celebratory victory dances (naa nuh naa nuh naa naa), high fives and all those things that young men do when they have crushed their opponents in church league softball. We had won!

I can tell this story (and each time the ball travels higher and further) to guys who were there in the game that night and very, very few will remember it. Certainly it was an insignificant event in almost any area of life you can imagine (other than my memory). And yet that night it was enormous to all of us on the team. The point is that the greatest moments, the greatest achievements, the greatest awards you will receive will be reduced in significance and eventually erased by time. You cannot carry forward your high moments very far. They have a very short shelf life.

There are two applications connected with this story. First, if you want the accolades that come with achievement, you must keep achieving. What you did yesterday will bring little or no praise today. Larry Bird, who at the height of his career was named Most Valuable Player in the NBA, was asked what he was going to do in the off-season. He said he was going to develop some new moves and shots and when he came back, he would be unstoppable. The only way to keep getting the praise is to keep growing and achieving.

Second, we need to put our efforts into things that will last. I don’t have to hit homeruns today to get praise. I want to hit homeruns with my wife, my children, my family and friends, because that’s where I am affirmed. You need to build relationships that will last, and the greatest of those relationships I think is with Jesus Christ. If you don’t have that relationship or you’re unsure about it, speak with someone today who can help you.