momentum
By Pastor Greg Bitgood

Momentum is not listed as one of the nine fruits of the Spirit. Nor is the word found anywhere in the Bible (I checked computer searches on 5 versions). Yet, I witnessed the power of this unseen force in a such a dramatic way last weekend that I had to record my thoughts for you.

I am, what I consider to be one of the greatest privileges and achievements in my life, a little league baseball coach. This year my son has moved up to the Mosquito Division and I am assisting Rich MacLennan (probably the finest little league coach in Canada, he paid me to say this). Our team, the Space Center Astros, participated in the regional Charlie Green Tournament with teams from all over the Okanagan. We knew we had one of the better teams, as our record to date had been 7 wins, 2 losses, but we also knew we would be facing some very good teams we hadn't played yet. In our first three games we were in control and advanced into the semi-final as everyone expected us to do.

The semi-final was a different story. We played against the one team that had beaten us soundly in our season play. All the boys were concerned when they walked on the field and saw who they were playing. The other team had a sense of confidence that appeared to draw even the coin toss in their direction. They had their hands firmly around this unseen force of momentum. In our first at-bat we only scored one run. In higher levels of play this would be a welcome start to the game but in little league holding a team to one run per inning is a great defensive achievement. The Best Way Blue Jays came out swinging. Though they were not a fast team, they hit the ball with power and assurance. Momentum was in their every swing of the bat and it seemed to squirt the ball underneath and past our timid fielders. They finished the inning with five solid runs to our feeble one. The second inning was more of the same. We scored two runs but we were called out on some very questionable rules made by an inexperienced teenager behind the plate. When a team has momentum on their side even the umpire's calls tend to fall their way. Best Way finished the inning with six more tow-tappers dancing on home plate. The score was now 11 to 3. This is still not an insurmountable wall in little league play, teams come back all the time with these scores, but the other team still had MOE in their dugout. Our third at bats started like the others with two quick outs and now we were starting to think if we could win the next game for third place. Then we snuck out a couple of walks and stole some bases. A smack through the infield drove some runs in. One boy walked then stole second, third and home. We ended the inning with six big ones. Our confidence was up but we were still behind - we rattled the other team but their bats were strong. Our defense held them to one run and the boys shouted and jumped as our pitcher (Mark MacLennan) struck out the last batter with a pitch that could have fanned Ken Griffy Jr. It was in our dugout, you could feel its force grip your heart. I stood there with a slight chill down my back, momentum was on our side. In the top of the fourth our boys pounded that little white ball with the red seams all over the field. They stole bases like jack rabbits and closed the inning with six runs. They charged onto the field to their defensive positions and held Best Way to one run with spectacular catches and fine, precision pitching. The game had to be called because of time limits and we moved on to the final with a score of 15 to 12.

The final game was no comparison, the boys had it won in their minds before they stepped on the field. We got ahead in the first inning and never let go. We had momentum.

I realize now that momentum is just another way of expressing what happens to your attitude when you have hope and faith restored. "Where there is no vision the people perish" (Prov. 29:18). If you lack momentum it is probably an indication that you don't see yourself as a winner at the end of the game, but as you read God's book you will discover "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place" 2 Cor 2:14. We win!!

July 5th, 1995

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