Day One Hundred and Fifty-Nine

The Little Leaguers

I met a pilot at the gym last week, with two boys who play baseball. I sensed a trade coming on. He'd teach me to fly. Adam would teach them to play. And that's exactly what's happened. Toward the end of the month, I'll be flying the skies with the American Airlines pilot. But today, the boys got to pitch alongside a "professional baseball player." With their eyes wide and ears tuned in closely, the Little Leaguers paid close attention to the words and instruction that came from their "guest" coach. Each boy was given a one-on-one lesson, and by the end of their "bullpen," they were throwing more and more strikes. Seeing Adam in this environment was inspiring. These children listened to him. Really listened. With that sort of attention, Adam could have an effect on them so much, so much bigger than baseball. And tonight, we saw exactly that. The little boy on the rubber (above) is talented beyond his years. And he has two younger brothers with similar skill. At age 11, CJ is already throwing in the 60 MPH range, with 2 pitches, and a new arsenal of glove signals that he learned tonight. Beyond that, however, we learned that two of the three brothers just recently accepted Jesus into their hearts as their Lord and Savior...and on Sunday, they're getting baptized! Praise God for them! And for us, this is what baseball's all about: spreading the truth of the Lord using the platform God's blessed Adam with. And as he told the boys tonight, "Baseball's temporary. It will end someday. But God, He's everlasting." On Sunday, we'll be praising with their church as the boys are baptized. 

God is so Good.

And because it's baseball, little boy baseball, there were ultimately many Overheards to laugh at:

Kid: "How fast do you throw?"

Adam: "97."

Kid: "How much money do you make?"

Adam: "Not enough."

We're learning more and more that kids tend to be missing a filter...Haha.

Dad: "Go give your brother your cup."

Son #1: "Ok, besides, this thing is really itchy so I don't care!"

- Ten minutes pass -

Son #2: "I don't think you'll be wanting this back!"