It was tryout day for the major league baseball team and the manager expected the usual varied bunch of wannabes. He began the procedure, watching the candidates throw, pitch, hit and run and as usual there were a few promising players, but most were just unskilled. Then after all of them had been seen, the manager turned to leave, but before he could his assistant stopped him.
“There’s one more – arrived late.” The assistant explained, though he looked a bit puzzled. But then he spoke again. “He insists on seeing you.” Then he handed over a resume sheet and pointed to the field. “There he is.”
The manager looked down to see the only figure on the field was …a horse, a smallish bay equine standing near the fence, his tail swishing. The confused manager looked harder, then found himself heading over, wondering if the candidate could even speak. However, the horse was ready as he approached. 'I'd like to try out for your team,” he said.
Understandably, the still perplexed manager was skeptical. 'What position can you play?' he asked slowly.
'I can bat.' 'Let's see.' The manager then realized that several trainers were watching and listening from the nearby dugout and at his gesture they ran up with some equipment. Then, taking a bat in his teeth, the horse stood ready and then when the ball was pitched to him he hit it out of the park. The still bewildered manager was impressed.
'What else can you do?' 'I can play first base - and shortstop.' 'Let's see.' The manager watched his trainers take their positions and the horse proved a superb player in both positions.
Despite his initial skepticism the manager was mentally thinking contract details. 'All right, now can you pitch?'
'Don't be ridiculous,' the horse scoffed, 'who ever heard of a horse pitching?'
That's a silly imaginary story of course but maybe it might raise a question that you might think about sometimes. And that is - was there ever something you just didn’t think you could do? In fact maybe you’ve asked yourself the question about something on your spiritual journey as you seek to serve God.
It might come when you’re presented with a new challenge that on the surface seems impossible or even unthinkable. In this case you might even ask yourself who? Me? And you add “But I've never done anything like that before!”
I’ve certainly thought that way, but who's to say I can't do what God asks? After all, if he really wants me to go in a new direction or do something new then he'll not only guide me but also provide the means for me to do it. And all it takes is the decision to start and the faith to continue. After all, with God's guidance and provision - I can accomplish what he directs.