“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” -1 John 3:16-18
This Sunday will be the final football game of the season. Sadly, there was no football on TV this past weekend. I love watching a good football game. It always seems like we will have to wait an eternity before the first kickoff of the next season! Thankfully, pitchers and catchers will report on February 16, and soon, baseball season will be underway.
This past weekend, my family and I found a great baseball movie to watch. I don’t usually recommend movies, but the new film You Gotta Believe is worth the watch. This movie is based on the unlikely success of the 2002 Fort Worth West-Side All-Stars. This little league baseball team was a true underdog story. The movie retells this rag-tag team’s incredible journey from mediocrity to an iconic appearance in the Little League World Series. It is a true all-American story.
The team from Fort Worth loved baseball and truly wanted to earn a shot at the World Series, played every year in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The Little League World Series features some of the best teams from around the world. It takes tremendous effort, talent, and motivation for a team to make it to the big tournament.
The Fort Worth West Side All-Stars had additional motivation beyond their love of the game. Their coach and the father of one of the players was diagnosed with cancer. The team rallied around their coach and his family as they made their improbable journey to the World Series. Their coach is Bobby Ratliff. He has an aggressive form of melanoma. Although Bobby is very sick, he teaches the boys important lessons about baseball and life.
One particular line stood out to me in this movie. As Coach Bobby gets sicker, he begins to contemplate his life and what are the most important things. He tells his team and his family, “The most important thing I’ve got is what I give.” He understood that to truly succeed, one must give of themselves in service to others.
We define success in so many ways. In sports, we seek trophies. At work, we strive for titles and greater income. True success is found when we help others. In football and in baseball, success requires team effort. When we give of ourselves, we help lift everyone to greater success in life. This is what it means to be a family of faith. As we work together, we realize the strength of God’s great love…a love that gives to others, so we all succeed.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
