C A R L B. G A R N E R

A LESSON FROM BASEBALL

Can it really be 37 years since Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's home-run record! Well, nothing has so captured the fancy of this nation in recent years. Tickets to games in which Mark McGuire is playing have been virtually out of sight. The pressure on him, opposing pitchers, the press and the entire country has been enormous. But the record has been broken, and who can say how many more he will hit.

There is one very strong contrast in these events, however. In 1961 opposing players did not treat Maris as McGuire has been treated. The players of that era were of the "old school," giving no quarter and wishing no one well from opposing teams. They gave no congratulations when the feat was accomplished, standing with hands on hips waiting for his circuit around the bases to be completed. Not so, Tuesday night. Everyone, from a rival in the home-run race to the family of Roger Maris gave their heartiest applause to the one who had broken this 37 year old record. The game was interrupted for fifteen minutes by celebrating players and fans.

Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep." I have heard all my life that it is easier to weep with those who weep than it is to rejoice with those who rejoice. When a person loses a loved one, we seem to be comfortable with the task of comforting them, but not in rejoicing when they achieve some goal or receive some honor. It is as though we are envious of their accomplishment and do not want to add to their joy. Why is that so? Why do we have difficulty giving congratulations to those who deserve it? Do we not enjoy being the object of praise as individuals? Why is it so difficult for us to rejoice with those who rejoice?

JEALOUSY?
Is it possible that man is so self-centered today that he feels that any praise another receives will diminish his own worth? We expect to see a degree of jealousy in youthful romances, but for grown people to be jealous of another's success is the depth of foolishness. King Saul revealed signs of jealousy toward the shepherd-boy-turned-hero, David. Having defeated Goliath, the people praised him, saying "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." When Saul heard it, he said, "What can he have more but the kingdom?" (1 Samuel 18:7-8). He was never the same afterward; jealousy destroyed him.

BITTERNESS?
The quality of bitterness often is seen in men whose accomplishments have been limited. "If I cannot gain the praise of man, then neither will you" seems to be the mind-set of bitterness. Have you ever been bitter because someone else won a prize, got a job, or won the girl? Can it be that some show this quality so they might limit others their deserved honor? Paul wrote, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice," Ephesians 4:31. Did you notice the company kept by bitterness: wrath, anger, clamour [shouting, strife], evil speaking and malice. When others get the praise and congratulations they truly deserve, how can we withhold it from them because of bitterness?

LACK OF LOVE?
One thing that separates Jesus' disciples from the world is the fact that we "have love one to another," John 13:34-35. That degree of love, by its very nature, must seek the best interests of the object of that love. But how can we have that love when we are jealous and bitter toward those who honestly succeed? Are we hoping for their failure so that our stature may be increased? If so, we do not have the love for our brethren that Jesus expects and requires.

OUR OWN FAILURE?
No one is promised that he/she will be successful in every endeavor. Solomon reminds us, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all," Ecclesiastes 9:11. Some fail because of unfair treatment, and others because of lack of skill, laziness, or even being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But why should we hold it against those who have fought against the tide and won? How can we be diminished by courtesy and charitable attitudes toward others? We cannot, and we would be wise to realize this.

Journalists are writing about the "classy" behavior of the major players in this event. McGuire paid his respects to the Maris family in the stands. Opposing players, due to their respect for McGuire and his accomplishment, congratulated him heartily. Sammy Sosa, who was only three home runs behind McGuire at game time, was among the first to offer his congratulations to the man who had broken the record. Another incident was caught by the camera as he rounded the bases. With all the players giving him their congratulations he almost missed first base. He carefully went back and touched the base. He played the game by the rules.

Maybe we can learn a lesson or two from baseball. Rejoicing with those who rejoice. Playing by the rules. Behaving as a gentleman. Perhaps there is still some character out there among us Americans.