by Jeff Forney
'The grind,' 'The long haul,' and 'The dog days of summer.' If you have been around baseball long enough I’m sure you have heard some of these old sayings. These are common baseball clichés used to describe the length of the baseball season. Baseball is truly a unique game and I consider it one of the toughest mental games of all to play. The fatigue factor plays a big roll in the mental difficulty of the game. As you run out of gas over the long season the physical skills start to diminish and this starts to make an athlete doubt his ability to perform. This is a vicious cycle that every baseball player and coach experiences. It has also been labeled, 'Hitting the wall.'
I got my first experience of this phenomenon my first year of pro baseball. After coming off a long college season of about eighty games, I signed a professional contract and was immediately on the field playing a 72 game summer schedule in 74 days. As you can see, it did not allow for many days off. And to make matters tougher, the two days we did have off were travel days. I started that season weighing about 178 lbs. I finished that summer weighing an anemic 162 lbs. The bat felt like it weighed 10 lbs by the end of the season. I recall the advice we received from our managers, “Guys, you have just experienced a foretaste of a long season grind. I suggest you all take some time off, rest your bodies, build them back up, and come into spring training prepared to do this all again on a bigger scale.”
Life’s Grind
Life throws us the same unique grind as does the game of baseball. Family problems, financial problems, peer pressure, trouble with coaches, and finally, doubt about the true purpose of our life. Where do we go for rest and recuperation from the dog days of life and the day to day grind of rejection, disappointments, and loneliness? Listen to the encouraging words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 11:28-30, "Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."" (New Living Translation)
These are always encouraging and reassuring words when I feel down, tired, or frustrated with life’s grind. Jesus' words are clear, in fact he says, “Come to me, all of you . . .” The word all can only be interpreted one way, all. That’s me and you. When we can’t seem to find rest for our body, soul, and mind, we need to give those burdens over to Christ and rest in him. We need to always take the time to rest and to learn of his goodness, gentleness, and true humbleness, for he will go beyond giving us rest just for weary minds and bodies, he will give us rest for our souls.
Bring It To Christ
Take time today and come to Christ. He has entitled us all to come to him freely and give him all the problems that are weighing us down and making life a grind. He wants to refresh us continually so we can take on life with zeal and vigor that comes only from resting in Christ. May your days be filled with the rest and peace that comes from spending time with Christ.
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