Casey at the Bat

Casey at the Bat. The classic cartoon that parents show to their kids to teach about the importance of making the most out of every opportunity. The audience sees Casey with so much potential, so much promise, and yet…he never came through. He squandered the opportunities set before him. He is arrogant, prideful, and overconfident. So much so that he watches two perfect pitches go by while reading the newspaper. Casey had the opportunity to be great, to fulfill his purpose, and become one of the greatest stories in baseball. Casey had the opportunity that most people wait their entire life for. Two outs, bases loaded, and the chance to win the game and become the hero. If you know the story or watch the clip, then you know the result…he, and his team, lose the game.

This last week I felt like Casey. I had to opportunity to do what I have been training to do. The circumstances were set. The stars had aligned and I was called to the plate…for Christ that is. The first pitch…I was coming back from lunch (pulling through the parking lot) and I saw a homeless man, his name is Ed{I met him two weeks ago}, with a sign asking for money. As the pious priest in the story of the Good Samaritan…I quickly passed by. I was running late….excuse. As I drove away the story of the Samaritan popped into my head…much like the priest and the beaten man…I knew that the beaten (whether physical or mentally) had seen me…and I failed to act…STRIKE ONE.

Strike two came a couple days later while I was failing to engage in the act of loving my wife. The excuse, much like Casey, the time for living out my calling wasn’t yet. I figured, like I always do, there would be another opportunity to be the person that Christ has called me to be. I figured I still had another pitch coming…besides, as always, I was right in the argument, and therefore, I would wait for the next pitch to take action and represent Christ the way he has called me too. Then I heard the umpire call…STRIKE TWO.

So now I stand with two strikes ready to play ball…I am ready now…the game is on the line. My team needs me…as the pitch winds up the thought crosses my mind…will I end up like Casey?