Reflections from the Home Team May 17, 2014
”Pitching is an art… it’s not about blowing someone away with a
98 mph fastball… it’s about control, location and changing speeds. I always
threw hard enough, it took me a while to figure out how to throw slow enough…”
Greg Maddux
Greetings from Cedar Falls,
I wanted to take a moment to update you all
as I have had a number of questions following a recent hospitalization at
Covenant in Waterloo. In short, the “visiting team” has not returned for extra
innings which is good news. Tests in
Iowa City confirmed that the cancer was still in remission in early April, and
follow ups have been good in that regard.
My doctors continue monitoring my lab counts as always to keep a close
eye on things. I had some cardiac issues which were the reason for my stay at
Covenant. Lots of testing done and
things are moving forward positively after making a few adjustments. Some genetics at play of which I have little
control, but once again, I’m very thankful for my medical support both locally
and in Iowa City.
I wanted to share some recent reading I
have been doing as well. I seem to have
had a bit more time while being laid up for a few days so I picked up Max
Lucado’s “You’ll Get Through This… Hope and Help for Turbulent Times”. You
may know Max as he authors a number of inspirational Greeting Cards. His book is very good. I especially liked his
chapter titled “Is God good when life isn’t?”
In the book, Max draws many parallels to
turbulent times in our lives such as a traumatic injury or diagnosis,
unemployment, a broken marriage, divorce and he likens them to being thrown
into a pit. He compares those times in our lives to the Biblical story of
Joseph being thrown in a pit...
“Joseph’s pit
came in the form of a cistern. Joseph was thrown into a hole and despised. Pits
have no easy exit and Joseph’s story got worse before it got better.
Abandonment led to enslavement, entrapment, and imprisonment. He was
sucker-punched. Sold out. Mistreated. People made promises only to break them.
Offered gifts only to take them. As Max points out, “If hurt is a swampland,
then Joseph was sentenced to a life of hard labor in the Everglades.” Yet he
never gave up. Bitterness never staked its claim. Anger never metastasized into
hatred. His heart never hardened; resolve never vanished. He not only survived;
he thrived. By the end of his life, Joseph was the second most powerful man of
his generation. His life offers this lesson: in God’s hands, intended evil
becomes ultimate good. Joseph would be the first to tell you, life in the pit
stinks. Yet, for all its rottenness, doesn’t the pit do this much? It forces
you to look upward. Someone from up there must come down here and give you a
hand. God did for Joseph. And at the right time, in the right way, he will do
the same for you.”
If there is one thing I’ve learned from my
journey in life so far, it’s that when we are faced with difficult times, we
need to give “control” over to God. I’ve often struggled with this as part of
me wants to be in control at all times. It reminds me of something I heard one
of my favorite players share at a pitching clinic one time. His name is Greg Maddux and he was one of the
best “control” pitchers of all time. Of course, much of his success came during
his time with the Atlanta Braves! Greg shared:
”Pitching is an art… it’s not about blowing someone away with a
98 mph fastball… it’s about control, location and changing speeds. I always
threw hard enough, it took me a while to figure out how to throw slow enough…”
I draw an analogy to Greg’s quote with how
I’m hoping to adjust and live my life given some of the challenges that have
been “thrown” my way. Living life is an “Art”… So many times life’s pace is so fast
that we can get “blown away” as we race to keep up with the things that often get
tossed our way in today’s world. It can
affect many things in our lives from our health, to our marriage to our
relationships with others. Life is about
“control”, location and changing speeds… Personally, I always have thrown hard
in my life, and it has taken me a while to figure out how to throw slower...
As for “control”, I have found by placing my troubles in God’s hands and allowing
Him to be in control, peace has entered where panic once resided and calmness
settled in where anxiety once ruled. It’s a comforting feeling.
With summer nearly upon us, I’m wishing you
all an enjoyable time filled with plenty of baseball and relaxation. A short
verse shared in Max’s book provides a good reminder about the “Art of Living”
when faced with challenging times…
You’ll get through this.
It won’t be painless.
It won’t be quick.
But God will use this mess for good.
Don’t be foolish or naïve.
But don’t despair either.
With God’s help, you’ll get through this.
Blessings your way!
Sincerely, Dave
