After losing game two of the NBA playoff series with the Miami Heat, the New York Knicks’ Amare Stoudemire took out his frustration on a fire extinguisher. Angry and disappointed, he drew back his fist and crashed it into the glass case that was holding it. The fire extinguisher won. Stoudemire had to have a huge gash in his hand stitched up and he missed the next important playoff game.
My reaction to this story was pretty close to most everyone else’s – there’s another self-centered, immature athlete, acting out. He wasn’t thinking about his team or the fans. He was just immersed in himself and his own feelings.
What’s sad is that, when I recall my own reactions to difficult situations, I probably react pretty much the same. No, I haven’t hit anything since I was in high school, but I can easily slip into a self-centered snit. I might pout or flare up and say something hurtful. Raise your hand if you can identify.
Our entire family, awash in green and gold, showed up as Baylor’s baseball team took on UT-San Antonio a couple of weeks ago. Baylor was riding a record-setting 24-game winning streak, ranked #1 in the nation as they came in to meet underdog UTSA. Our three-and-a-half-year-old grandson, Josiah, was caught up in the hoopla, cheering and clapping and leading the entire grandstand section in a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” We all had a wonderful time. It would have been just perfect, but Baylor lost the game, ending their win streak, 4-1.
Losing is never fun, and our whole entourage was glum as we made out way to the parking lot. On the way, we passed the Baylor team bus, loading up for the three-hour trip back to Waco. I was sure the players were even more bummed out than we were, so they were undoubtedly in for a very quiet journey home.
About that time, a chipper voice rang out behind us. “Hey there, Little Man,” he said. “How are you doing tonight?” Josiah had caught the eye of a Baylor Bear player who was following right behind us. Suddenly, Josiah started a rapid-fire conversation with his new friend, the ballplayer. We stopped, and the guy totally engaged our grandson for about 10, minutes, talking baseball with him. He traded caps with Josiah in the middle of the conversation and told him he looked like he could be a Baylor baseball player someday. Josiah loves sports more than any 3-year-old I’ve ever known, and he was in heaven.
I thanked the guy for taking time to be so nice, even in the middle of a less-than-fun situation. I found out his name was Nick Wright, a junior pitcher at Baylor. Since that evening, Josiah has talked and talked about his friend, the Baylor baseball player.
What Nick Wright didn’t know was how that day had gone for Josiah up until game time. He had had his monthly appointment at the Cystic Fibrosis clinic earlier that day. He had been poked and prodded and examined for more than 4 ½ hours, an ordeal that he’s gotten used to, but he still dreads it and starts dragging his feet the minute we get into the parking lot. We had an evaluation and strategy session with his doctor at the end of the session. She interviewed Josiah and he informed her that he was going to be on his way to see Baylor play baseball as soon as she would let him leave this terrible place. “Anything that you can do to encourage Josiah’s interest in sports will be so good for him,” the doctor told us. “Exerting himself in athletics will do wonders in helping him keep his lungs clear.”
Nick could have made his way to the bus without saying a word to anybody, and I don’t think I would have blamed him. It was an effort to be friendly to strangers under the circumstances. But, Nick chose to be others-centered. He saw a little boy watching him, then, took the time to just be happy and friendly to him. What did that meeting mean to Josiah? His doctor said encouraging his interest in sports could extend his life. Josiah met a baseball player and wanted to be just like him.
I usually feel like I need to be profound to affect somebody’s life. I’m ashamed to say that there have been times when I just turned my head rather than make the effort to simply speak to somebody. I thought I didn’t have anything in particular that I could say that would make much of an impact, so I just avoided interaction. There was too much effort involved. What if I get pulled in deeper than I have time for? That’s pretty self-centered, as if I was really smart enough or insightful enough to touch somebody’s life in my own strength.
My calling is to be obedient. God has placed me in my world, and surrounded me with people that I know and love and some I just pass by in the course of the day. He tells me to just become the vessel that He can use. That means looking into people’s eyes, smiling, and saying hello. It’s that simple. He’ll do the rest.
Today, across the country, millions of Americans will worship freely in sanctuaries, auditoriums and homes. In Iran, though, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani sits in a prison cell, not certain of what this day or the next few weeks will bring. His wife and kids wait at home. His congregants wait prayerfully, and wonder if they might be next to be arrested.
Thankfully, our Congress and our President are applying appropriate pressure on the Iranian government. And. we have been joined by other nations and individuals who realize the injustice and the persecution is not acceptable.
Many of our brothers and sisters around the world face the same oppression as Pastor Nadarkhani. As free believers, we have the responsibility to pray for them, talk about them, remember them.
"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."
Matthew 5:10-12
