Friday, March 14, 2014

Catching the Ball

 
I must have been in the third grade, and our class was learning the game of baseball. 
 
I was out in right field and the baseball was coming right to me, but the sun was in my eyes.  

I can still see! - photobucket
My hands were held over my eyes, but my fingers were spread apart so I could still see. 
 
Alas, my coordination was not good enough and when I reached out to catch the ball, I dropped it to the pavement.

All my classmates began to jeer and yell at me for my clumsiness and tell me what I should have done; and how much better they would have made this catch.
 
I felt like a fool and was so embarrassed that I was unable to even mumble a feeble apology for letting them down.  Of course our team lost the game, and then it was time to return to our class room.
 
In life isn’t that the way it is when others criticize and find fault.  What great arm chair football players we could be if we were in charge.
 
Sin is sin, but when I begin to fanaticize how the sinner should never have gotten into this mess, I realize my feet will not fit into their shoes.
 
Then I remember what Jesus told those men who accused the woman, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”
 
Which sin is the greatest?  We all can begin a nice list of terrible sins, but honestly the biggest sin of all is to NOT receive Jesus as our Savior. 
 
Perhaps we need to just preach Jesus and not point so many fingers and allow Him to do the clean up. 

Maybe our eyes are covered by our hands and we cannot see the Son because we have blocked out the light.
 
May we catch the ball and not let it drop!
 
 
This post is shared with Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays
 

4 comments:

Terra said...

I like your post about just preaching Jesus and not pointing so many fingers. As the song says "And they'll know we are Christians by our love."

Anonymous said...

I am so thankful for God's favor, always try to remember in my prayers to ask The Lord for His favor.
Vicki Kopp

Floyd said...

Absolutely outstanding analogy! We judge as if we have no sin... just because the weakness is different than ours. We all fail, but our Savior can't... That is our strength, that is our celebration... not our failing flesh. Awesome post, Hazel. I have to have my youngest read this who had a similar experience at softball. Thanks for your wise heart.

Sharon said...

Great post! I was also taunted for my terrible baseball abilities. I couldn't hit, and always struck out. I can still hear the taunts today. Thankfully, the Lord helps me turn a deaf ear to the taunts of the enemy, who also seeks to humiliate me.

But I am humbled in the best way by God's gift of salvation. I seek not to judge others, lest I be judged myself.

GOD BLESS!