by Rick Furmanek
Tony Gwynn, perhaps one of the greatest hitters of all time, reminds his students that when they step into the batter's box, they only have one job to do . . . hit the ball. He then offers some sound advice on what not to do when you're in the box. You don't want to allow the mechanics of hitting to cloud your thinking. You work through mechanics during practice so that when you swing in a game, it's all there automatically. Also, you don't want to take the approach of; I hope I don't strike out, which will stifle your efforts. More often than not, these types of distractions will ensure your failure at the plate. To have success, your mental approach must be completely focused on one thing at the plate, plain and simple, "Just hit the ball".
When it comes to stepping up to the plate of life, where everyone's watching and everything is on the line, there's a verse in the Bible that also speaks of our need to be focused on just one thing. It comes from the book of Matthew, chapter six, and verse thirty-three: "But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." (NIV)
But you and I both know that accomplishing that type of focus is easier said than done. Like the hitter who constantly hears his dad shouting, "Keep your hands back", "Get up on the plate", "Stay back and drive the ball", we too are pummeled with distractions right and left in today's society. We're all too familiar with, "We really need another car", "The mortgage is due", and "How are we going to pay off the credit card?" Some distractions actually have a good cause, but when they jump in and usurp what it really important in life, God calls them exactly what they are, distractions. And if you stay distracted long enough, you're sure to miss and strike out.
When the noise of everyday life starts to overpower your ability to focus on what is really important, call, "Time!" Step out of the box, take a deep breath, and as Kevin Costner stated over and over in the movie, For the Love of the Game, "Clear the Mechanism". In other words, ask God for help. Ask him to quiet the 'noise' in your life, then step back in and swing away.
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