by Rick Furmanek
Perhaps you've been there, championship game on the line, the last inning, two outs, your team is down by a couple of runs and you're up next.
My son, Seth, found himself in that situation this past summer as a member of the Connie Mack dream team, Arizona Subia. An 18U team, Subia was the first team in Arizona history to make it through state, the western regionals in California and remain undefeated throughout the week of the Connie Mack World Series. Now in the championship, their opponent, the Midland (OH) Redskins, snatched game one of the championship from Subia, forcing a second game in the double-elimination tournament. Exchanging leads a couple of times, Subia now found themselves down by two in the last inning. The first two batters produced quick outs and now, with the game on the line, it was Seth's turn at the plate.
If you've never been to Farmington, New Mexico for the Connie Mack World Series, you need to experience it at least once. With literally four to six thousand in attendance each night, many have touted it as the top amateur event in the Nation. Having been there, I would be hard-pressed to disagree.
Now it was do or die. The fans were stomping their feet creating a deafening thunder as the pitcher went into his windup. "Strike one!" Again, the pitcher delivered, "Strike Two!" Seth, called time and stepped out of the box, closed his eyes . . . the crowd's pounding of their feet now matched the quickened pace of his heart. In unison they seemed to say, One more hit! One more hit! At that moment Seth looked to the sky and asked for God's attention. "Please God," he petitioned, "all I ask for is for a way to get on base. That's all. Please help me." Being the youngest player on the team (16 yrs old), Seth didn't want it to end this way. He didn't want to disappoint his team. He was looking to, and expecting, some ray of hope.
As he stepped back into the box, a sense of expectation filled him. The next pitch landed right on the right field foul line, a Texas Leaguer, and Seth was now on first. God answered his request.
Does God work like that every time? Of course not. But according to the Bible, God does listen and He does answer. At times it's not the answer we want or desire, but nevertheless, He answers. All He asks is for us to be faithful in asking.
The Bible says in the book of Mark, "I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything." (The Message)
God asks us to remember Him when we're faced with both the little seemingly insignificant details as well as the huge events in life. In other words, God wants to be involved, but He won't respond if you don't make an attempt to ask.
In the midst of the crowd's thunder, Seth asked for something seemingly small in relation to the scope of the rest of his life . . . to get on base in a game . . . but God listened and granted him the desire of his heart.
By the way, Subia lost the game and ended up the runner-up to Midland (OH) Redskins in the 18U Connie Mack World Series. Hats off to a great team. I'm sure there were just as many Redskins fans praying just as fervently that night.
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