Escaping the Script Handed Us in Life

Plus Dr. James Hollis’ Mantra: Shut Up. Suit Up. Show Up.

One morning recently I paused during my meditation, looked skyward, smiled, and asked God if my grandson could get a base hit in his Little League baseball game.

Don’t worry, I first covered the big items — the coronavirus, people out of work, climate change, world peace, loved ones with health problems, etc.

But, my grandson is having a tough time with baseball and could use a little encouragement.

He plays left field and the coach is always praising him for backing up errant throws from the infield, of which there are more than a few. He stands out there with his feet moving anxiously around as he slaps the palm of his baseball glove.

He trots fast more than runs hard and throws more with his wrist than his arm. He progresses as his body develops and finds whatever measure of athleticism has been gifted him.

When he goes up to bat, he leans over and bangs home plate really hard; twice, four times, sometimes six times. Fewer times but between pitches.

Occasionally he gets on base with a walk (there are a lot of walks in Little League baseball). But, he strikes out. A lot. But, not for a lack of effort. If there was a spirit award, he would win it.

When I visited him in Oregon and after seeing two of his games we took a bag of whiffle balls to the ball field and went over the basics of how to hit a baseball…