Did I ever share here that I was once a professional baseball player? No? Well, that’s because I wasn’t… but I did play pee-wee baseball when I was a kid! (What a humiliating name – “pee-wee”.)
The first team I played for was awesome. We won a ton of games (Pee-wee is all about winning, right?) and went through a couple of rounds of the regional tournament. At the end of the season, I received a trophy. I didn’t really earn it, but I was part of the team that did. That was a great moment – accolades all around.
Recently, I uncovered and undusted that old trophy and instantly realized a few things…
- It’s only 1/3 as tall as it used to be… or at least as I remember it being.
- It’s plastic, spray-painted gold.
- Pretty much nobody really cares that I earned it… or played for a team that earned it.
Here’s the thing. Pleasing others = fading, rusting, plastic trophies that nobody remembers. Pleasing God = an incorruptible crown.
When I played pee-wee and made contact with the ball, the crowd would cheer me on, “Run, Brandon, run!” (No Forrest Gump jokes necessary, I was just the slowest runner on the team, that’s all). So I ran then, for a short, plastic trophy.
I’m being cheered on now too. The crowds in heaven are yelling, “Run, Brandon, run!” But this time… it’s for a different kind of trophy. For whom are you running today?
photo credit: pokalstapel
I'm madly in love with 
Great post, Brandon. This reminds me of a Demetri Martin quote, “I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I’m good at everything.” :)
.-= Brett Barner´s last blog ..MMH5 – Five Things New with GodlySheep =-.
Now that is a great quote! Thanks Brett!
I received my first trophy in 6th grade. It was first year of playing organized basketball and the team was terrible. We finished in last place, but everyone got a trophy.
I think of it a lot like God’s love; we don’t really deserve but we get it anyway.
.-= Travis Williams´s last blog ..Cotton Filled Sky =-.
Absolutely. In fact, I think there are multiple applications of the analogy – good thought.
Running for earthly trophies is so seductive. Instant rewards. Tangible rewards. My basement is full of earthly rewards that I am waiting for a yard sale to pass on to someone else.
Running for Godly rewards is definitely the better race. It can be frustrating. The end at times seems to stretch out of sight. But we need to keep on running.
My recent introduction to the Christian blogging world has been a great personal motivation to keep on running. As I read different posts and interact with Christians from different walks of life, it is helping me make those daily adjustments that are needed in order to be effective in the race God has set before me.
Thank you for reminding us of the race that is worth running!
.-= Dusty Rayburn´s last blog ..Responsibility =-.
Great thoughts, Dusty, and welcome to the Christian blogosphere!
As a father I watched you run and felt pride. Not for your speed(or lack there of), but because of the fact you gave it your all. As I have watched you run for God, I have an even greater pride, because I know you still give it your all. May you run, with great strides, on feet and legs filled with strength, handed down from the grace of God, the race set before you, and your crown(trophy) be filled to overflowing. Still cheering you on. “RUN BRANDON RUN”. Will meet you at home plate with high fives as we celebrate the ultimate victory.
Thanks Dad!
I used to run track when I was at school, too, and I would only get second place. I wasn’t as fast a runner as I needed to be to get first place, but that’s fine because I know I tried. Anyway, running for a godly crown is something I want to do and get first place. While I won’t be perfect here, I know I will get first place when I get to Heaven. I can tell you’re doing the ultimate task of running for God, Pastor Brandon, so I, too, say with others: Run, Brandon, run!!! I’ve never understood why people run while things are going great, but they’ll stop running when things don’t go their way. Of course, I wonder if, sometimes, we don’t do that ourselves, me included? It disappoints me when I do that, too, but I realize I have to ask God to forgive me and start again.
Quite right you are.