In the Zone

If you're a baseball fan you may have heard about what University of Texas pitcher Austin Wood did in the NCAA baseball tournament this past weekend.

If you're not a baseball fan you probably wouldn't even of cared if you did hear.

What he did was nothing short of incredible. In relief he pitched 13 innings of a 25-inning game against Boston College (the longest NCAA game ever!).

13 stinkin' INNINGS! 169 pitches! The first 12 1/3 innings he pitched without giving up a hit! 12 1/3 innings!

Let me give you a little perspective . . . An entire game is normally 9-innings, and for a guy to throw a 'no-hitter' (give up no hits) for an entire game at this highest level of college baseball in the NCAA tournament, is probably a once in a decade thing. And he did that -- and then 4 more innings without anybody getting a hit!
And I can tell you from experience - I pitched against Texas in college at Disch Falk several times - and never went more than about 12 PITCHES (much less innings) without someone crushing a ball and nearly decapitating one of our fielders :)

Incredible! He was as we say in athletics . . . In the Zone.

Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire talked about being In the Zone when he said: "I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."

Now . . . here's my point. I think it's great that Austin Wood pitched 13 shutout innings (Not that I really care that UT won :) --- But I believe that God has made us ALL to live In the Zone!

I believe that He has called YOU to do something great AND eternal! But we don't just accidentally wander into the greatness zone.

We find it as we seek to know God more through His Word . . .
As we are still enough to hear His voice . . .
And as we are open to God possibilities and willing to take great risks to get there . . .

Baseball is awesome, but few folks have been built for baseball greatness. All of us who live with 'Christ in us' have been built for eternal greatness!