A Note From Tom: September 14th, 2012
Hey, everyone!
Hope you're having an awesome, praise-filled, joy-packed, pre-thanksgiving Thanksgiving Day!
I know it's tough for some to really go ahead and let the thanks fly, because there are so many undecided, uncertain outcomes ahead of us…How do I know if I can be thankful and joy-filled before we know how it's all going to turn out? There are lots of things that have to be decided! It could go either way!
First, there's the Florida game. Can the Vols do this? There is a chance! We have beaten them twice in the last…ah…let's see…Yikes! Twice in the last ten years…
Then there's the weather. That's an undecided, too! If you're hoping for a sunny weekend, your chances are pretty good 'til Sunday. After that, there some real rain comin'…But when?! As they say, the weather's still "up in the air!"
And we're all watching to see if the Braves can hold on to their wild card lead! They start a series with the division leaders, the Nationals tonite…This could be HUGE!
Then there's the presidential election coming up. That's really undecided. They say it couldn't be closer.
That's news, sports and weather where things might not turn out how you want them to. How are you supposed to be thankful when you don't know if things will go your way?
And what if they aren't decided the way you hoped?
Waaaay back more than a century ago…1888, t'be exact…someone hypothesized how it would feel in mythological "Mudville, USA" if inevitable hopes faded and fell, unfulfilled. It takes great poetry to express the depths of feeling of unanticipated disappointment. The poet, Ernest Thayer, or "Phin" as they called him, called his magnum opus, "Casey At the Bat"
It's long but these are the highlights...
"The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville Nine that day;
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play,
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game…"
Ok. So, we're in the bottom of the ninth, behind by two, with two outs. The possibility of the amazing, consistent Casey getting his chance to get to the plate and win the game, was dimming because he was following two mediocre guys who were probably going to be easy outs. We pick up the call…
"...But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third…"
So, we've got runners on 2nd and 3rd, with two away and the winning run coming up to bat…Casey!!
"…Then from 5,000 throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat."
"There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat…"
But C takes the first two pitches…just lets 'em go by… And they were both good pitches! Just not what he wanted! And suddenly it's 0 and 2! Two strikes and only one left! Time to get serious!
"...They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again."
"The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow."
"Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out."
What?!
Casey struck out!?
Who would've dreamed…even in their nightmares…that this could have ever happened!?!
So, in Mudville…"no joy".
Hoooooolllllld oooon a second!!
It's just a ball game, for crying out loud!
No joy!? Really?!
Sure, there are a lot of undecided questions. Will we win or lose? Will we be wet or dry? But I can still have JOY no matter how it turns out! Because some things HAVE been decided!
Just this morning, I was reading in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. And he tells us that in the things that matter, there have been decisions made! Some very important things are already decided!
No matter what, God had already decided that He would love us! "…When we were still dead in our sins…Before the world was even formed…" (Ephesians 1:4 and 2:4)
So, no matter what happens, it isn't because God doesn't love or care! Because that thing is settled! So…because He loves me…no matter what…if I get on base or strike out...I've decided to have joy!
And win or lose, rain or shine, when it doesn't go "my way", it isn't because "the devil's after me." Y'know how, when there's a problem or trouble…even a little one…folks sometimes say, "I think Satan's attacking us!" Well, that conflict has already been decided! When Jesus rose from the dead, He triumphed and is "seated…in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come!" (1:20-21) So…problem or no...rejoice!!
And, no matter what's still undecided, here's one decision that has been made! Having Jesus, you have all the power you need to make it in, and through, anything! In Ephesians 1:19-20, Paul asked God to help us see that the power of God in you is so immense because it's the power of the Holy Spirit Who raised our Lord! You have this power! He decided long ago that it's yours! So, vote for "JOY For President" of your heart!
There's a verse that says, "Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS!"
And you can!
Even if we lose!
Even if you were Casey!
Even if it rains!
Just think about it. If it wasn't for the rain, why else would they call it "Mudville"?
But, I'm deciding that because of the things that have been decided, there CAN be joy in that muddy little town!!