Playing Small Ball

I love baseball. I am a sports fanatic in the truest sense if the word, but I truly love the game of baseball.

There is something about the history, the pace of the game, the potential for exciting things with every pitch, and the threat of a comeback that makes it special. One of the most exciting things in baseball is the home run. It is fascinating to watch a feat of strength and timing that sends a ball hurtling hundreds of feet through the air to land beyond reach. It can quickly change the momentum of a game and is exciting for fans to anticipate.

Because the home run is so exciting, I think we try to perfect the same science in other areas of our life. We want to have the maximum impact with every decision that we make without realizing that this isn't always the best course of action nor is it always possible. While there will be opportunities when we can make a big decision that brings immediate changes of vast impact the reality is that life is usually made of up small consistent decisions adding together over time to create change. Above average, consistent baseball hitters know when the time is right to swing for the fences and when it's better to contribute in smaller ways for greater overall momentum. 

Are we content with occasionally getting the big hit or do we want to be more consistent with our efforts? Our mindset and daily discipline will help us do little things that add up to bigger results in the long run if we are patient enough to stay focused in the process.

Looking for Results

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:8

Many products change their label and tout that they are now "new & improved", but haven't really made adjustments that are noticeable. I feel that this can often describe people. We talk about how we aren't the same person we used to be, but the changes (even over great time) are negligible at best. If we are truly changing directions with our life choices there should be a corresponding change in what we produce. Our thought patterns, reactions, speech, and habits will slowly be transformed as well. These changes may not be immediately evident, but there should be a collective transformation that takes place as we look to improve our lives.

Short Term Payoff

We spent the whole day painting in the house we are moving into next week. It's a tedious task, but a necessary one to get the rooms prepped before we move. The truth is that I enjoy painting because it's a way to see the immediate results of my work.

I don't realistically expect that everything I put my effort into will immediately produce results. In fact, there are many worthwhile things that can only be seen through consistent efforts and regular focus. When all of your efforts are invested in producing long-term results however, it's important to find something that brings an immediate payoff of satisfaction. It can be found in the simplicity of mowing a lawn, pressure washing a sidewalk, or painting a room. These are tasks with a quick return on investment. They are important ways to find a short term reward while keeping your focus on producing the long-term results that need patience over the long haul.

Predicted Production

There is a business axiom that states: Your system is perfectly designed to produce the results you are getting. It might sound insulting on the surface, but it's merely a statement of fact. A machine that is designed to produce square boxes won't make circles. An inefficient system of shipping won't receive rave reviews for on time delivery. A poorly trained customer service department won't deliver excellent care for disgruntled consumers. It's impossible to expect certain results when you aren't doing what's necessary to get what you desire.

The same is true for our personal life. The thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions we are presently engaged in will bring about exactly what they should based on the input. If we don't like the results we are seeing then we should ask some questions:

• Do I really place a high value on the things that I say I do?
• What am I doing that is contributing to where I am at today?
• What am I waiting on God to do that would change my circumstances?
• What difficult adjustments does God need to make in me?

Addressing the dissatisfaction with our outcomes involves changing our methods or altering our expectations. We prove our maturity when we submit to God's transforming power in us as the first step towards improvement.

Results

I spent about 4 1/2 hours on my day off pressuring washing our back deck. It stretches the length of the house & is one of our favorite spots to sit and relax. After the falling leaves of autumn and the pollen of spring, it was pretty obvious that it needed to be cleaned. The results of my efforts were immediately noticeable and my wife & I were admiring how different it looked after I was finished.

I enjoy work like that-as much as I enjoy mowing & even painting (no sarcasm here-I really do like doing those things). I think the reason that those tasks bring so much satisfaction is that I can immediately see the results of my efforts. That doesn't happen quite as often when you are working in ministry-especially with youth. Sometimes you will labor for years before you see the fruit of something & then you may not see it at all.

This is the point where you simply trust that God has called you and that if you are listening to Him, He will produce the necessary results. It is a challenge to keep seeking God and His validation of what you do. It is more about being faithful to your calling than the immediately measurable outcomes.