You Get to Bat Again

 You Get to Bat Again

When I worked in banking, one day I was off in my teller draw by $5400. I mistakenly counted a customer’s deposit as a $6000 deposit when it was only $600. I thought I might lose my job over that mistake. Instead, I got to bat again.

When I played little league baseball, occasionally I would strike out. That is disappointing to any baseball wanna-be. The good news is that I got to bat again.

I once went through bankruptcy. That is a horrible and troubling experience. I wondered if I would ever have a credit-worthy reputation again.
In time I repaired my credit and today I’m happy with a credit score above 740. You see, I got to bat again.

There once was a guy named Simon Peter. He was a follower of Jesus Christ. He was a braggart, a strong-willed individual some might say, and he loved to tell you what he was going to do. However, sometimes his follow-through was less than desirable.

You see, in a critical moment in history, he denied even knowing Jesus. When accused of being a follower and a known associate of Christ, he cursed, he swore, he spat, he grumbled and he said, “I don’t even know that man.”

And then do you know what happened? He went out and wept bitterly.

He was ashamed. He was regretful for what he had said. He had lost his chance to be a man true to himself and true to the one he professed to love. He fell from grace as it were, and he felt his life was over. If only he could have taken those denials back. But it was too late.

Time passed. Christ was killed, and three days later he arose from the dead. Soon thereafter, an angel appeared to some of Christ’s followers. He had a message for them:  

7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 

He is going ahead of you into Galilee. 

There you will see him, just as he told you.

Did you notice that Peter was named specifically? It is as if Christ was saying, “Peter, you get to bat again. Don’t worry about what happened a few days ago. Get ready to bat.”

 

This idea speaks to me on so many levels. Of course, there is the spiritual application, and that’s good.

And there is the “failure” aspect of life that is dealt with.

Very few mistakes in life sound the death toll. Bottom line – WE MAKE MISTAKES!  We falter.  We mis-step.  We just down-n-out blow it sometimes. 

And then along comes a grace moment. We’re told – Get back up. Brush yourself off. Go to bat again.  You get a second chance.

There is an old Chinese proverb that says: 

Fall Down Seven Times – Stand Up Eight.

Mankind loves to put labels on people. 

“Oh, he’s a convict.”
   “Not him. He’s a bank robber.”
      “Avoid him. He’s an adulterer.”

         “Don’t trust her. She is a lie and a cheat.”

I love this quote by Maxwell Maltz. 

You are not your mistakes.

Have you fallen?
Made mistakes?
Blown it in a big way?
Committed some seemingly unforgivable act?

Your mistakes do not define you.

I'm thankful for second chances.

Second chances mean you get to bat again!

P Michael Biggs 

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration