A Rare Event

In Sunday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels center fielder Gary Matthews, Jr. was on third base. With Erick Aybar up to bat, Matthews was given the green light by manager Mike Scioscia and, timing the pitcher’s delivery, took off—stealing home. Of note is the fact that this was a straight steal not a suicide squeeze gone bad. Matthews simply outran the pitch to home plate. It was a sight to behold. Stealing home is not something that happens all that regularly today, but, in past years it was more common. In fact, legendary Detroit Tiger and Philadelphia Athletic Ty Cobb swiped home no less than 54 times in his career! In his 24-year career, Cobb stole a total of 892 bases—but to steal home 54 times is nothing short of unbelievable. Today, stealing home is one of baseball’s most difficult, and most entertaining, feats. And one of the game’s rarest events.

There are many things in life that are exceedingly rare (like stealing home) but other things that are more common. In fact, among the more common things of life are the moments of hardship and difficulty we experience—yet, when hardship comes, we are almost always surprised! We think about hard times as if they should be rare events, but they are not. Perhaps that is why the apostle Peter, writing to first-century followers of Christ going through tough times, said, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you . . .” (1 Peter 4:12). When facing life’s challenges, sometimes it helps to know that these trials are not abnormal—they are the result of living life in a fallen world. And, once we are able to stop being surprised by it, we can remember afresh that God was never surprised by it at all. Jesus said that our heavenly Father knows what we need, even before we ask His help. So, in times of pain and loss, we turn to the Father who loves us and He ministers deeply to our hearts and lives—with a love that never fails. And in our world, that kind of love is rare!

Bill Crowder, Sport Spectrum Chaplain