Today I continue on in my series of posts thanking God for things that we sometimes may not think to thank God for. Today I am thanking God for perfect games.
Mark Buerhle of the Chicago White Sox pitched a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays. 27 batters up, 27 batters out. It was only the 18th time in Major League Baseball history that feat has been accomplished. The last time a Chicago White Sox pitcher threw a perfect game was in 1922! A perfect game is an amazing thing and an example of an incredible individual performance but it is not just an amazing performance by the pitcher. Buerhle pitched a great game, he avoided walking anybody even though he went to three balls on a few batters. Even if he struck out all 27 batters, there's still gotta be somebody behind the plate calling pitches and receiving the pitches and making sure they drop a third strike and then have to make the throw to first to get the batter out. Of course there were the ground outs which invovled one of the infielders and the first baseman and the fly outs - some of which required the outfielders to run, dive, catch the ball, crash to the ground, and still come up with the ball in their glove. Yes, a perfect game is an amazing performance by the pitcher, but there were also eight other guys on the field any one of whom could have made a mistake or been a step away from making a play and the perfect game would not have happened.
This week in our family devotions we've been looking at Christ as our redeemer. Last night we looked at Hebrews 4:14-15 and how Jesus can sympathize with us and had been tempted in all things but yet was without sin. No matter how greatly I may be "pitching," it takes a team for a perfect game. With Jesus on my team, I won't be waiting for a call from the president after the game is over. But with Jesus on my team, I hope to hear "well done my good and faithful servant" when my game is over.
So play ball and praise God. Thank God for perfect games!
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