It's hot. The early summer evening sun is making itself known on the field and the bleachers. Fans sit under umbrellas. It's the bottom of the second inning. Players are already worn out from the heat. Our team is up to bat.
Runners on first and second base. They're counting on their teammate to bring them around the bases. The batter steps to the plate, smacks the plate with his bat and focuses on the pitcher. One pitch, strike one.
"That's ok, now you know what the pitch looks like ... now hit it." The coach calls from beside third base.
Second pitch, the batter sent the ball sailing over infield and out ... out ... way out to center field. He took off from home plate.
Coach signaled to the second base runner. The runner stepped off second, ran and rounded third base. Fans jumped from their seats ... they could see the outfield play ... the ball that had just sailed over infield was being thrown right back to the infield. The runner couldn't see it, she was just running for home. Fast. If any player could make it home ... it was her. She was ... quick. Eyes on home plate, she slid. The ball was thrown from second base to home. Dust billowed around the runner, catcher and .... the fans couldn't see ... was the runner ... Safe? Out? The umpire gave a thumbs up. Safe!
Then, everyone saw it. The quick footed girl was still down. Holding one leg. Trying not to cry. She's tough. Not much keeps her down. Coach called time and walked to his player. He knelt beside her along with the assistant coach. This little gal doesn't cry, so we all knew it wasn't good.
Quiet in the stands. Teammates stood in a circle at the pitcher's mound. No words, just stillness. Fear that something might seriously be wrong with their teammate ... their friend.
Both coaches lifted the runner to her feet. Through the stillness we all heard .... "Walk it out." The coach walked beside his player ... slowly, they walked together. One step at a time, walking out the pain in her leg.
Fans took their seats, sigh of relief. She was hurt but looked like she would be ok.
I took my seat near the fence. And, I thought ... about the coach's comment ... "Walk it out." He meant walk out the pain.
In our walk with Jesus, we aren't guaranteed a pain free life. In fact, God's word tells us that we will face trials and tribulations. Even when we are doing what God has called us to do ... there are times when ... it hurts. Sometimes we might feel just like that player running bases. We can't always see everything going on around us, we're just focused on getting ... Home. Safe. On the way Home, things can trip us up ... stumbling blocks. And, it hurts. When the hurt comes, Jesus calls a time out ... He knows when we've reached our limits. And, He comes to us, picks us up and ... helps us walk out the pain.
Psalm 91:4 "He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler."
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