What baseball teaches us about change & growth
I love baseball but can barely watch the sport these days. At some point, teams began to shift infielders from traditional positions on the field to these lopsided defensive positions based on hitters’ tendencies. With a left-handed batter, like David Ortiz when he played for the Sox, a team would have three fielders on the first base side and one hovering just away from second base on the third base side of the field. Because of these calculated alignments, batters have a completely open opposite side of the field to which they can hit the ball. And that’s where I start getting annoyed.
When you don’t adapt your game
They. Can’t. Do. It. Players don’t know any more how to slap at the pitch or drive the ball to the “opposite field,” where fielders are no longer positioned. Home run hitters don’t want to bunt, taking the sure yet less-glamorous hit. From my vantage point, it seems batters these days would rather ground out where the fielders are than attempt to change their approach and “humble” their game, opting for less success over bunts, singles and doubles.
As a kid, I watched players like Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn and, of course, Wade Boggs, who could spray the ball all over the field. These men became Hall of Famers by hitting it where the defense wasn’t. Brett Butler, Vince Coleman and Kenny Lofton would lay down a bunt and sprint to first base, boosting their average by hitting the ball no more than 50 feet. Today’s major leaguers could bat .400 (a feat not achieved since Ted Williams batted .406 in 1941) if they would learn from the past, adjust to these modern alignments and slap the ball to the opposite field or lay down a bunt along the third base line. And I struggle to watch them refuse to do so.
Change vs. growth
But what does this have to do with following Jesus, ministry, mission and church planting in New England? The lesson on the field is the same lesson in life — change is inevitable, but growth is a choice. Just as baseball evolves, so does everything else! How much our world has changed in the past twelve months? Even the timeless game of baseball has seen seismic shifts in its rules in the past year. Culture, communities, places of work and fun, churches, family dynamics and our emotions — they all constantly change. If something stops changing, check its pulse. To be alive is to live in the midst of change.
Growth, however, is optional. Growth is a choice. We can be seduced, in the midst of change, into thinking we are growing because we are progressing, but growth requires intentionality, a plan, discipline, faith, God-dependence and resolve not to be steam-rolled by changes around us. And growth comes with “soreness” as muscles, mindsets, habits and systems are stretched. We must not confuse change with growth or consider them synonyms.
Intentionally pursuing growth
If we are in Christ, we have been changed — the old has been made new. Not only are we spiritually changed, we’ve been refined and shaped by the rapid rate of change during the marathon journey of the past twelve months; we are stronger, I believe, than we were a year ago and stronger than we now realize. At this point, we are called to growth. How is God calling you to grow this year? If you are in a position of leadership, how is God calling you to lead people to grow this year?
I hope these baseball players adjust. I don’t know that I can stomach many more seasons of NESN games watching players refuse to grow and do what will bring obvious (yet less glamorous) success. Likewise, I pray we humble ourselves, rely on the Holy Spirit and pursue growth, refusing to confuse changing with growing.
JD Mangrum is the church planting pastor of Christ Church Charlestown in Charlestown, MA.