Running the race

A blogging buddy of mine, also a fellow Catholic and a fellow baseball fan, had a post the other day that I particularly enjoyed. He drew some analogies between baseball and the spiritual life. And I remembered something that happened last season with my favorite team, the Durham Bulls.

One of my favorite players last year was Joe Dillon. He's a utility player with major league experience, and I really love watching guys who've got big league experience under their belt playing on our triple A team. And I liked Joe from the start. He was a team player from the git-go. One of those guys who plays all-out, who holds nothing back.

And if anyone doubts that, Joe proved those statements to be true when he was half-way down the third base line running for home and blew out his knee. He went down like a ton of bricks and was clearly in pain. Lots of it.

And you know what Joe did?

He crawled home.

This is truly a mark of character... to keep going even when you've gone flat on your face. And as important as baseball is (GO BULLS!!!), it's even more important in the spiritual life.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

- Hebrews 12:1-3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be sure to check out Conversion Diary" each Friday for 7 Quick Takes!