For Major Leaguers, this kind of failure must be faced 162 games every season. I constantly hear people complain that the MLB season is too long, and should be shortened. But I disagree. The real game (the game behind the game) is who can be patient the longest, facing a great deal of failure every single day. People who are trapped by the vice of impatience, and who cannot stand the thought of their own failure, are the kinds of people who hate baseball. Not enough action, they say. Not enough scoring, they say.

But because of the nature of baseball – facing long-term failure without giving up - it becomes a willing metaphor for life. Honestly, I find myself failing everyday. I fail as a husband, father, pastor, friend, and generally speaking, as a human being created in the image of God. I often go 0 for 4. A good day is 1 for 4. Most of the time I fail.

And then off to bed. Next day. Same thing. Failure. Next day. Same thing.

Watching baseball helps me remember to keep going. It helps me remember that no matter how often I fail, it isn’t my failure that determines my future.

I am in union with the best player in the league – Christ Jesus. As a hitter, He is batting an eternal .1000. Every swing is a homerun. As a pitcher, every game is a Perfect Game. Nobody can even get a hit off of Him. He never looses. (I hope this is not too cheesy, because it really makes a lot of sense).

Because I am “In Him,” then, I never loose either. So as a player on God’s field, my job is to stand back and let Christ take my at-bats for me, pitch my games for me, field the grounders for me. I’m playing, too, but I’m playing in union with Him. As Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). And then again in Eph. 1 (notice how many times Paul uses the phrase, “In Him.”)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

So this MLB season, I intend to watch a few games, and play Fantasy with my brothers, to the glory of God. Look, I’m not trying to overspiritualize things here. I know some will say, “It’s baseball, Jason, just enjoy the game and leave God at church.” But I can’t help but notice the connections, and for me at least, it helps me enjoy the game all the more.

Having just signed Noah up for his first season of Little League, reading this article brings a tear to my eye. I highly recommend it to you:

FIRST-PERSON: Pitchers and catchers report — will Dads?