Month / June 2012

by Jacob Bembry

Reunited With An Old Love — Baseball

           I had actually forgotten how much I loved baseball until I began watching the College World Series. I am cheering for the Seminoles, who may have been eliminated by the time you read this (I hope not!) but it always seems to happen whenever they go to Omaha, Neb., to compete for the national title.

            I enjoy seeing a player hit a homerun or lay down a bunt. I enjoy watching as the pitcher and the batter engaged in a ferocious battle and the pitcher and catcher also have to deal with that pesky runner at first base.

            I enjoy watching the catcher as he acts as the “quarterback” for the team, calling signals for the pitcher, watching all on-base runners, blocking wild pitches and even acting as the armor for the umpire behind him. The best I ever saw at this when I was a young boy was Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati Reds.

            There were plenty of good pitchers back in the day: Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers, Ron Guidry and Sparky Lyle of the Yankees, Catfish Hunter with the Oakland A’s and the Yankees, and Don Sutton and Fernando Valenzuela of the Dodgers.

            I also enjoy watching the infield. One of the greatest players who ever played third base when I was a boy was Graig Nettles of the New York Yankees. It was like watching a ballet as he would snare balls surely headed for the outfield and robbed hitters of base hits. One of my favorite infield combinations was Steve Garvey at first, Davey Lopes at second, Bill Russell at shortstop and Ron Cey at third for the LA Dodgers.

            There were also some great outfielders but I remember them more for their hitting power, particularly the legendary Henry Aaron of the Atlanta Braves. I don’t think they were juicing steroids back then either so Aaron’s record should still stand.

            Probably my favorite part of the game is the strategy that the managers and coaches use. My favorite manager of all time was Tommy Lasorda of the Dodgers, but there were other great managers back then including Billy Martin of the Yankees and Dick Howser of the Yankees and Royals (and before that the Florida State Seminoles).

            I have watched Coach Mike Martin make several calls this week that helped the Florida State Seminoles.

            Life is like a baseball game. We use different strategies to cope with different situations. Do we hit and run or do we lay down a bunt? Do we lean into the pitch and take one for the team? What do we use as a playbook for our strategies?

            I use the Bible for my playbook and God as my manager. Sometimes, I stray too far off base and get thrown out at first but I get up, dust off my uniform, go back to the dugout, get the playbook out and plan my strategy. 

by Jacob Bembry

The Hurricane

I can feel your hurt, I know your pain,

You’re walking against the wind,

Walking in the hurricane.

You need someone to erase the stains

You can’t hide, you can’t pretend,

Walking in the hurricane.

So many nights you spend on bended knees,

Crying tears, saying, “Lord, help me please,”

Your broken heart you can’t explain

To anyone not walking in the hurricane.

And, your heart breaks like it never has before,

The rain keeps falling and you watch it pour,

No umbrella, no raincoat you walk through the storm,

With nothing there to keep you warm.

Looking to Heaven for answers, not knowing if there’s one,

You pray to God in the name of His Holy Son,

“Lord, help me please, come and take this pain,

I’m so tired of walking through the hurricane.”

As you tread through the streets, you see the toppled trees,

But through the power lines you hear a hum like a symphony,

You can make it, Jesus can conquer your pain

And send a dove to lift you out of the hurricane.

Keep walking on water, with your head held high,

Remember always God is there in the night,

He’s there in day, He’s there in the pain,

Helping you walk through the hurricane.