Brian made his high school debut on the mound last night. It was a start that had it's high points, as well as it's low points. On the good side, he struck out 5 in 3 innings, and only allowed 3 earned runs. On the not so good side, he walked 5 and gave up a couple of home runs. To his credit, the wind was howling out of the North at 20 - 30 mph, and the fly balls to left field kept going, and going, and going...In putting this experience into perspective, Brian's pitching coach and mentor from Manhattan put it this way. He quoted Nolan Ryan as saying, "Do not let the failure of the last pitch affect the success of your next pitch." He went on to say, "Brian will have plenty of success come his way and this is just a stepping stone toward that success. We must first find and learn how to handle failure before we can taste success."
Wow, that sounds like pretty good advice for us adults also, doesn't it!! I couldn't count the number of times that I've failed at something, and have been afraid to get back up and try it again. Yet we are encouraged by our Creator to do just that. Jeremiah 29:11 says says “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Paul tells us in Phillipians 3:12-14 "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Keep working Brian, and you will know success.
De Colores
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