Driving home from a baseball lesson one night, ¹ for some reason I kept thinking about taking a lead off of a base. In American baseball, if a player makes it to first, second or third base, he will often come off the base a few feet just before the pitcher’s next pitch to better his chances of safely reaching the next base or scoring a run.

 

I have no clue why I was thinking about this…and it was quite odd.

 

Being a baseball player the majority of my life, running the bases was something I did quite often. That surely was not my strength in the game. Keeping me on the mound as my team’s pitcher was more likely the wiser thing to do.

 

As I thought about taking a lead off the base, I recalled hearing my coaches say, “Stay close!” Now you may be thinking, was that because I was a subpar runner or was there a more important reason? And that right there would be a valid question.

 

Be still, and know that I am God. ²

 

Most of the time when a coach tells you to stay close, it’s to keep you from wandering too far from the base. On the base, you’re safe, but off the base someone could tag you with ball and you’d be out. We call that being picked off. Perhaps the pitcher has a nasty pick off move or the catcher has a cannon for an arm.

 

So the coach tells you to stay safe. He closely watches the other team who has highly skilled players and doesn’t want you to make a mistake and get thrown out. The bottom line is…he wants to keep you safe. So he reminds you frequently to stay close to the base.

 

Traveling the back roads of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, it dawned on me that this is very similar to what God does. He knows when situations in life are not safe for us, when we need to stay close to Him, and even closer as life challenges begin to roar. He also knows when we will extend our lead thinking we are safe but then have to retreat back.

 

In me find peace, I’ve overcome the world. ³

 

He even knows that there will be times when we may get picked off for not listening to Him and we need His grace. But just like baseball, if we listen to the coach telling us to stay close, the probability of us being safe goes up.

 

Today, are you not feeling safe? Are you unsure how far to stretch your lead in life, to push the envelope and maybe get picked off? Stay closer to God, listen to Him, and watch as He keeps you safe, guarded, and protected from the things in this life troubling your heart.

 

Love God, love people, stay positive and be great!

 

Ross

 

 

Ross Buckwalter grew up in Ephrata, PA, and knew the heavy burdens of life at an early age. After a professional baseball career, more burdens brought him to a breaking point in 2019, but God intervened and saved him. Today Ross spreads hope, joy and positivity…sharing how he can see God in the good, the bad, and the darkest of times. Ross lives in Lancaster, PA, has a son, as well as a daughter with special needs. Check him out on facebook.

 

Footnotes: (1) Having been a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and now retired from Major League Baseball, Ross is a pitching Instructor at Champ’s Performance Training in central Pennsylvania, USA.. (2) Read Psalms 46:10. (3) Read John 16:33.

 

Pictures: Banner:  (1) Come Close to God, James 4:8, creator unknown. (3) Ross Buckwalter, photographer unknown.