A “Perfect Game” in baseball is very rare. There have been only 20 pitchers to pitch a perfect game in the 135 years of professional baseball. On June 2, Armando Galarraga, of the Detroit Tigers, actually was the 21st pitcher to accomplish that feat. But Galarraga was denied his perfect game because of a bad call by the umpire.
For those who do not know what a Perfect Game is, it is a pitcher who faces only 3 batters each inning, 27 for the game. That is 3 up and 3 outs each inning, with no base runners. It is very rare in baseball.
Armando Galarraga pitched such a game but it was taken away from him by a bad call. He had gotten the first 26 batters out. Only one more batter and he would have been memorialized in Baseball’s Hall of Fame. It happened, but the First Base Umpire made a bad call. He called that 27th batter safe at first, when replays showed he was out. After the game Umpire James Joyce acknowledged that he blew the call, but the perfect game had been lost.
Instead of a Perfect Game, Galarraga will be remembered for something else – his character. He looked in disbelief as the Umpire called the runner safe at first and smiled. Steve May, wrote of the moment, “But Galarraga just smiled – albeit a sardonic ‘you’ve go to be kidding me’ smile – and then he went back to the mound and got the last out. Even after the game, he refused to lash out at the umpire’s mistake.” Armando Galarraga demonstrated character that is kind of a rarity these days, especially in the world of sports.
Steve May, in his “Monday Morning Memo” reminded readers that blown calls are a fact of life. “They come at us in different ways: The boss who gives credit to the wrong guy, the teenager who blames everyone else for their own insolence, the church member who finds fault in everything the pastor does. The result is that sometimes you get short-changed. You deserve credit, but credit doesn’t come your way, thanks to someone else’s bad judgment.”
In those moments, how do you respond? Do you have the mind of Christ, that looked at his betrayers and forgave them? I don’t know anything about Galarraga’s faith, but he demonstrated a Christ-like character. What about you and me? When you are hurt by the bad judgment of others, do you lash out? Do you get mad? Or, do you smile and get back to work?
Galarraga did not get the Perfect Game he deserved. But he did show baseball fans how a true sportsman plays the game. What about you and me? Do we show those who are watching us how a Christ-Follower plays the game of life? Do those around us see a Christ-like character in the way we respond in those times we are hurt?
The Apostle Paul commended the Thessalonians for such character. He wrote: “So, when you accepted the message, you followed our example and the example of the Lord. You suffered, but the Holy Spirit made you glad. You became an example for all the Lord's followers in Macedonia and Achaia.” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7; CEV)
Remember to lift the Youth Mission Team in your prayers. They are in Tennessee, serving others in Jesus’ name. They will be returning on Saturday.
Sunday morning, our Family and Leisure Team, is having a Pancake Breakfast for dads. Bring your father to breakfast before Worship and Sunday School. Breakfast will be served in the Fellowship Hall from 8:00 AM until 10:00 AM.
Some have asked me if I have read Max Lucado’s new book, Fearless? I am reading it and planning a message series related to it for our August Camp Meeting. We will also be having Small Groups that will be studying the book. If you would be interested in hosting a small group or leading one, you can email me. Most of these groups will kick off the first week in August. Some may wait until the second week. Either way, they will run five weeks.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
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