Jenny and I are watching Meet the Press tonight on DVR…common place for us on Sunday nights. I didn’t realize that it has been 5 years since Hurricane Katrina. If you have a few minutes, I highly recommend watching the program online here. Brian Williams is actually sitting in for David Gregory for this episode.
Amazing how we time moves so quickly. But as was said on the segment, “That’s tough to look at…it was yesterday…it’s been five years.” A lot of great guests and smart discussion…sans Brad Pitt anyway. The footage from 5 years ago is powerful. Really enjoyed the last segment of roundtable discussion here.
Tonight was our first baseball game for Taylor’s team. I am managing his team this year and it has been a lot of fun. We played really well but came up a bit short tonight. However, one big thing that I know I personally learned was that we all need to learn WHO we should listen to–in baseball…and especially in life.
My fellow coach came up after a half inning and said, “Only one of us (coaches) needs to talk to a batter at a time. I noticed that I was trying to talk to a batter and I looked down and you were already talking to him. They aren’t hearing both of us…(probably neither of us when we are talking at the same time.)”
We also have a couple of players that have a really hard time “nicely ignoring” the crowds and focus on just coaches and fellow players. When I was umpiring, one of my mentors used to say, “you can’t have ‘rabbit ears.’” Meaning, when you are behind the plate, especially, you need to focus on your job, not listen to your critics calling balls and strikes from the stands on the 1st or 3rd base lines.
I was reminded tonight of the passage in the Gospel of John where Jesus tells about the sheep and the shepherd.
3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.John 10:3-10
So, who are you listening to? Are you trying to listen to too many things all at the same time? Are you listening to the encouragers in your life? The critics? Let us focus on the Master’s Voice, which brings us life!
Friday is for Family . . . and Chick-fil-A! I try to figure out on Friday’s (my day off) how to get us to Chick-fil-A for breakfast as often as possible. I even make up excuses to be in town to have some chicken goodness. These dudes have a new Chick-fil-A tribute video that is awesome! Rivals the greatness of the Tim Hawkins parody! Enjoy!
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