Confronting Failure

 

            Recently, my 12-year-old great-nephew scored six runs, but he only got on base once.  That’s the making of a great riddle since it’s usually impossible to score without first getting on base.  However, his league has a rule that if the pitcher or catcher gets on base, the coach can send in the player who made the last out to run for him.  Unfortunately for Dawson, on that day, he was that person.  Five times during one game, often twice in one inning, he was called to run.

            While scoring a run is always exciting, generally failing to get on base when you bat is disappointing, to put it mildly.  I’ve seen batters hit their bat on the ground in frustration, throw their helmet in anger, blame the umpire for the “bad” call, and even cry in shame.  Ultimately, all those emotions often compound an already bad day!

            I’m proud to say that Dawson’s disgust and disappointment in his at-bats did not affect his attitude.  Every time he was called to run because he had made the last out, he entered the game with the same enthusiasm as if he had just hit a double.  He ran to the base, eager to help his team.  He was alert, down in running position, ready to take that next base the first chance he got.  Just by looking at him, you would have never known that he was there only because he failed in the batter’s box.  As a result, he went on to score five times and his team went home with the victory.

            Life is often like a baseball game.  There will be those seasons where the home runs just keep coming but more often, you’ll be like most batters, striking out, hitting into a double play, or hitting a long fly ball that the fielder catches.  Maybe you are weighted down by other challenges and just don’t have your head in the game.  Maybe you didn’t get the training that you needed.  Maybe you got a bad “call” or maybe you just need to look for a new game. 

            It’s not why you struck out that is important; it’s how you respond to the “strike out”.  Are you going to throw a temper tantrum because you didn’t get what you thought you deserved?  Are you going to blame everyone else because you didn’t do the hard work that it takes to succeed?  Are you going to wallow in self-pity, too focused on yourself to even try to move forward?

            Your attitude in dealing with adversity will always determine your future path.  Are you going to get back in the game, eager to run the new path before you?  Are you going to put your game stance on, ready for the next call to action? 

            Serena Williams said: “I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they recover when they fall.”  Attitude matters.          

            It’s your choice. You can ride the bench as a failure or you can get back in the game and help lead your team, and yourself, to victory. Overcoming failure from my porch!

Colossians 3:23