Post Season

Our local MLB team, the Milwaukee Brewers, have made it to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. It was 1982 the last time the Brewers played in October. That year went well for them, ultimately going to the World Series but losing in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals.

For most of the year, the Brewers were way ahead of the rest of the NL League (except Chicago) and appeared to be in command of the wildcard spot. Then, as the season was drawing to a close, the Brewers looked like they might let the Wildcard berth get away from them. It all came down to the last game. With their record tied with the NY Mets, they had to win and NY had to lose to secure the playoff spot on the last day of the regular season. They played 162 games over an entire season and it came down to one game.

Which game, which day matters? They all do. The NY Mets understand that. One more win in April-September, just one, any one, and they would have at least tied the Brewers and had a chance for the playoffs. The Minnesota Twins understand that, too. They lost their tiebreaker game last Monday. It’s tough when a whole season comes down to one game.

Spiritual application (It’s what I do): We are all playing for the post season. Sure, we’re trying to enjoy the regular season (life) but what really matters is making it to the post season (eternity in heaven). Which day matters? All of them. We are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus, not by ‘winning’ more days than we ‘lose’, but every day matters.

Allow me some other baseball analogies. We have injuries. We have streaks and slumps. We have managers (pastors) that are trying to bring out the best in us and help us all as a team get to the post season. Some people leave the team because they don’t like that the manager didn’t let them start or play the position they wanted. Others just can’t (don’t want to) play at the level of excellence required. (take up your cross, deny yourself, be holy, etc.) They don’t take it seriously. Others won’t follow the rules of the game as presided over by the Umpire.

We all make errors, too. On offense, a great player in the game of baseball today bats .300. That means that 7 out of 10 times at bat, they strike out or get put out without reaching base. (I think being a weatherman in Wisconsin is the only other profession where you can have a 30% performance rating and keep your job). You don’t have to be perfect. No one bats 1.000, no one. But we must do our best. We study the playbook, try to improve our game, play by the rules and show up giving 100% to every game, because every day matters.

Both baseball and this Christian life come down to two things:

1) enjoying the game
2) making the postseason

May you enjoy every day as you follow Jesus. No matter what you day throws at you, may you know contentment as Paul did, whether he had little or much. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not perfect, but keep trying to raise the level of your game to that of the all-time MVP and General Manager. I’ve already secured a place in the postseason. I’m just waiting for Jesus to call me up. I hope to see you there.

Enjoying the Journey,

David