If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (I Peter 4:11 NIV)
Growing up in the south in the 60s, before pro teams moved to Atlanta, Charlotte and Florida, there were no local teams to choose from. So, as a kid, I picked the New York Yankees, Boston Celtics and Baltimore Colts. A strange geographical mix, but I’ve remained faithfully loyal through lean years and championships.
During all those years, one of my heroes has been Bobby Richardson, second baseman for the Yankees from 1955 until 1966. Winner of three world championships, five gold gloves and eight All Star appearances, he is the only player in MLB history to win the World Series MVP for the losing team. But for all his heroics on the field Bobby is most known for his influence off the field.
This summer, some friends and I met Bobby[1] at a restaurant in his hometown of Sumter, South Carolina. We’d all read his book, Impact Player, and he was gracious enough to invite us to his favorite restaurant to discuss it. We wanted to pay for his lunch, but when we discovered the restaurant didn’t take credit cards, he picked up the tab. Awkward! Bobby then invited us back to his house to meet his wife and to see his baseball memorabilia.
Bobby, and his wife Betsy, made us instantly feel as if we were long-time, close friends. He graciously signed every book, baseball, baseball card and hat we brought. He took us back to his office where we held one of Babe Ruth’s bats, as well as the one he used to hit a grand slam in the 1960 world series.
Joe, who was there with me, said his face was hurting from smiling. I could relate. I was beaming like a nine year old kid.
Bobby told us many stories about his good friend Mickey Mantle. He had a huge impact on Mantle’s life, leading him to the Lord before he died of liver cancer in 1995.
Bobby’s life exudes the presence of Christ. He was asked to speak at nine funerals of men he played with, including Mantle’s.
Just like Bobby, I want to have a Christ-like impact on the people in my life. But to do so, I must lay aside my expected outcomes.
God recently showed me how some of my actions were more about making my life better than fighting for His greater purposes.
Struggling with how my actions weren’t producing the results I expected, I cried out to Him late one night. It was a tough time.
Through our wrestling, God showed me I need to trust Him with all the outcomes.
In His Spirit, I’m to do the next right thing, but the results are up to Him.
Though it was hard to realize how much I still thought things were up to me, I’m experiencing a growing freedom. The more I trust God’s loving ways in all situations, the more my life is marked by carefree joy.
Lord, I’m so sorry for saying and doing things only for me. I ask you to guide my every word and deed. I want to make an impact for Your glory, not for my comfort. Thank you for showing me this and caring so much about me that You wouldn’t let me settle for smooth circumstances. Your lovingkindness and Your nearness is better than life.
[1] He insisted on us calling him Bobby and not Mr. Richardson
Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures. Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post once a week. Thank you for reading.
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