I Know How You Feel!
Every baseball player dreams of making it to the majors, but to tie a Major League Baseball record within the first week would be something really special. Chase Wright, a rookie pitcher for the New York Yankees, did just that in only his second game after being called up from a Double-A team—though probably not in the way he had hoped.
On April 22, 2007, Wright gave up a record four consecutive home runs to the Boston Red Sox, allowing the Red Sox to sweep their division rivals in their first meeting of the season. In doing so, Wright tied the record previously held by Paul Foytack, who gave up four consecutive homers in 1963.
Rather than berate the young pitcher, then Yankee skipper Joe Torre said, "It's just another piece of experience for that kid. It has nothing to do with what he's going to be or what's going to happen in the future. I still think he's going to be special. He's a pretty tough kid."
While Torre's confidence was certainly heartening to Wright, he received some support in the mail from someone who could really empathize with his plight. Paul Foytack, Wright's partner in baseball infamy, mailed him a letter of encouragement the next morning. "He's kind of young to be going through that," Foytack said. “Hopefully, he'll take it to heart."
There was only one other person on the planet who knew exactly how Chase felt, and that was Paul Foytack. Because of that, Paul was the one person whose words of encouragement would mean the most to Chase.
God equips us, through the most disappointing or painful experiences of our lives, for the ministry of encouragement. Had Paul Foytack not had the same experience, he would not have been able to offer Chase such meaningful comfort.
It is through our disappointments that God empowers us to empathize with the very people who most need it.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us" (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
Avoiding Disappointment With God
"The Christian Life begins and continues on the foundation of forgiveness, not on a promise of protection and help in a difficult world."
It is important that we have a proper understanding of God's purpose for our lives. Is it His purpose to protect and shield us from the unfortunate things that happen in life? Or, is it His purpose that we learn to demonstrate His forgiveness in a world that uses and abuses us? If we expect to be protected from the harsh realities of life, then we will likely be disappointed with God. But, if we understand that this life is all about displaying grace, then we are able to grasp the importance of being exposed to pain. Life's hurts form the perfect context for displaying God's love and forgiveness.
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Crowd Control Crisis in Tucson and Jersulem
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Repeating a scene from 13 years ago, several hundred Arizona fans and Tucson police clashed in the streets late Saturday following the University of Arizona basketball team's loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament.
Authorities said 15 people were arrested after fans hurled beer bottles and firecrackers at officers, who then used pepper spray to disperse the crowd. ...
"We've been training for this event for several months now," said Sgt. Pete Dugan of the Tucson police department. … Police brought in cruisers and a unit of officers with batons, helmets and face masks to block the street when people started tossing beer bottles, cans and firecrackers, hitting police vehicles and endangering officers.
Crowd control is an ugly business, especially when the crowd is unhappy or doesn't get what it wants. Celebrations can turn to melees in moments.
The most famous of all crowd control crises came on the heels of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowds lined the road, jubilantly waiving palm branches and shouting happy Hosannas. Just days later, the same crowds--protesting their disappointment in their king-turned-criminal--began chanting feverishly for his death. "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" (Mark 15:13).
They wanted one thing--an earthly king to overthrow their tyrannical oppressors. They got another--a humble, suffering servant, come to save them from their sins. And so they rejected him.
The Lord wasn't surprised by the reaction. Like the Tucson police department, He'd been preparing well in advance and was ready to meet the challenge.
We've all had our Palm Sunday and Good Friday moments. Those times when we've come to expect one thing from God, but receive another.
How will you respond to the Savior?
Will you mock and scorn Him for failing to meet your immediate expectations? Or will you continue to shout your Hosannas and patiently wait for Easter morning, where all the disappointments are turned into glorious rejoicing?
"So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!'” (John 12:13).
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