World Series Lessons Learned

If you’ve been keeping up with baseball on any level, you’re most likely aware of the outcome of Game 3 of the 2013 World Series. Just to recap: In the bottom of the ninth inning, Cardinal runners were on second and third base with only one out. Jon Jay, a Cardinal outfielder hit a ground ball to Red Sox second basement Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia threw the ball to the catcher at home to prevent a Cardinal runner from scoring while the Cardinal second base runner advanced to third.

At that point, the Red Sox catcher threw the ball to third base to try to catch the Cardinal runner, but overthrew the third baseman, Will Middlebrooks. Taking advantage of the situation, the runner turned to head for home and tripped over Middlebrooks. The runner was tagged out at home plate. However, the apparent out was negated due to an umpire ruling that the base runner was impeded by Middlebrooks on his way home.

Discussion and critical analysis of the situation ensued. Of course, both teams and their fans desired to win, and many spectators wanted the correct call. Regardless of the lengthy discussions, arguments for and against, and in depth sports analysis, the correct call was made when the baseball officiating crew relied on the rules of the game.

Much like the game of baseball, life presents us with situations that catch us by surprise and circumstances that don’t reflect our expectations or desires. No matter how hard we strive to analyze each situation, reason away our feelings, or use deductive thinking we will never arrive at the correct answer without going to God’s Word, our rule book for living.

As for the World Series game, the official ruling on the play was: obstruction. The baseball rule book not only gives a definition of obstruction, but also provides an example of obstruction, in order for the rule to be more clearly understood and applied. Similarly, God provides for us, through His Word, instructions for godly living and examples to show us more clearly what that can look like on a practical level.

Just as the baseball rule book brought clarity to the situation at hand, it also provided practical application for living the rule out, and unity, even between opposing teams, who chose to embrace it. In much the same way, God’s Word provides eternal wisdom (Proverbs 3:13-15) and is applicable for all aspects of living (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In addition, biblical truth provides objectivity, resulting in unity for those who will embrace its instruction (Philippians 2:5).