Chirp Chirp Chirp
by C.A. Phillips
Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.
Proverbs 4:23-27 (MSG)
It never fails - at least on the baseball field when it involves boys between the ages of 12-18. When their team mounts a rally or takes a commanding lead, the chirping ensues. When that team is batting, the dugout does everything it can to distract - and sometimes derail - the pitcher.I was umpiring a 14U game a few weeks ago, when the tables turned one inning. The team in the field was up by a run as the inning began, but the team on offense got a runner on base. Then another. And that was followed by an error. The wheels hadn't come off completely at that point, but you could see them beginning to wobble. As the offensive team took the lead, I could see the pitcher was rattled. He had kept his composure, but clearly he was becoming agitated.He stepped off the rubber and got my attention."Did you hear that?" he asked."What are you referring to?" I replied."They're yelling and joking and laughing," he said.I said, "Yes, I hear that. What about it?""Can they do that?" he continued."I understand why you don't like it, and I agree that it's annoying. But, they are not saying anything directly to you or about you. They're just excited and cutting up. They're trying to get on your nerves. I can't say anything to them unless they make it personal. You just need to do your best to ignore it."A couple batters later, he exclaimed and raised his arms in protest. "Did you hear that!?!"Again, I asked, "What did they say? Did they say something to you or about you?""No," he said. "They're just yelling and laughing.I said, "I'm sorry. You're going to have to find a way to put it out of your mind."I wasn't being cold to his feelings. I know it stinks when you are losing in a game and the other team starts to chirp. It can really get under your skin. Most players let it hurt their performance and focus. But, great players use it as fuel to ramp up their game.I always told my players that the best way to make it stop was to make the plays and get them out. Period.The world can certainly be cruel at times. It truly does feel as though it's "survival of the fittest," especially when it comes to our mentality. Our true enemy wants nothing more than to discourage and derail us. But, like a pitcher on the mound enduring endless smack talk, we have the opportunity to shut it out and shut it down by focusing on what we can control, doing our best, and giving God space to do His work.I once heard Brian Bloye, Senior Pastor of Westridge Church, talk about how important it is for us to "tune in to" the right voices and "tune out" the wrong ones. The voices we listen to creep into our minds, and subsequently into our hearts. Pay close attention, and like Brian Bloye encouraged, tune out those things that bring you down or create distance between you and God. Likewise, tune in - and turn up - those voices that speak life into your soul!SUBSCRIBE TO "OVER THE HUMP" DEVOTIONAL
C.A. Phillips is a lifelong sports enthusiast and youth baseball coach, and currently serves as the Communications Pastor and Director of Men's Groups at NorthStar Church in Kennesaw, Ga. He lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and his two sons, Chaz and Chandler.
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