This year I missed the live telecast of the Little League World Series championship game. Kathie, however, saw it and gave me a recap. Subsequently, I did watch video portions of the game and the post-game interview.
The Lake Mary, FL team represented the Southeast region of the US. Chinese Taipei represented the Asia-Pacific region. They advanced through the championship rounds in Williamsport, PA, and met for the championship game on August 25th.
Taipei had a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the 6th inning (the last regular inning in Little League baseball). With two outs and two on, the Florida batter hit a soft liner to left field, scoring the runner who had been at second base. Two extra innings were played. In the bottom of the 8th Lake Mary had runners at first and second. The next batter, Hunter Anderson, laid a bunt down along the first base line. The Taipei pitcher fielded the bunt and threw towards first for the third out. Except no Taipei player was covering the bag; the ball flew into right field, and the runner on second scored. Lake Mary won 2-1. What happened next is why I am writing this devotional.
Not surprisingly, the Lake Mary team rushed on the field hugging Hunter and Lathan Norton, who scored the winning run. Though excited, they cut short their personal celebration and formed a line to shake hands with Taipei players and coaches. When the handshaking was done, you could see some of the Taipei players crying. Manager Jonathan Anderson wrapped his arms around the disconsolate Taipei pitcher. Lake Mary players hugged and consoled their distraught opponents. An Orlando Sentinel editorial summarized the post-game this way: “that image of human kindness and connection … will dwell in the hearts and memories of Lake Mary fans … “
Acts of kindness are not something those ballplayers were born with. They, like us, had been instructed, based on the word of God. The players’ coaches were a model. We are to do to others as we would want them to do to us (Matthew 7:12). Even in victory, we should also look to the interests of the losers (cf., Philippians 2:4). Those 12-year-olds from Florida are an inspiration to those of us who have, over the years, lost some of that perspective.
There is also a second lesson found in this Little League game. Shortly after the game ended, but before the press conference, someone asked Hunter Anderson about his bunt. He did not elaborate on his skill, but rather, simply said he did what the coach told him to do. His comment is an apt reminder of what Jesus, our great coach, told us. And modeled. If we love the Lord, we will obey what He has commanded (John 14:15).
Too often we get caught up in the desire to win, and forget how to be winners. We win first prize at the fair for our apple pie, and act as if we are the perfect baker. We are nominated to be a deacon in our church, then behave as if we wrote the New Testament.
Lake Mary ball players won a close ballgame, then demonstrated how to be true winners. If they had lost the game, could they still be winners? I believe the answer is yes, provided they understood the true meaning of love your neighbor. Sure, they might have cried, but they would have had a moment to share in their opponent’s joy. A game well played by two winners.
Win and winner, lose and winner, are the same result to different outcomes. The Lord would be pleased in either case.
Nomads2 