I’ve mentioned that I don’t know a lot about sports. I am learning more about baseball each year as our son plays. Mostly, I just want to take pictures. But I’ve learned that I have to know where the play is going to be in order to catch the shot. I’m still working on that. There are so many things that can happen once a batter has connected with the ball!
I do understand the umpire’s role. Bless his heart. He takes a lot of grief from those who do not like the decision he made. They love him when he calls it their way, but the poor guy hears about it if they don’t. He has a tough job. He many times has to make a decision in a split second. In little league, there’s no camera recording the game, no instant replay option. And the spectators just have to live with the decision made, even if it was wrong. I would not want to be an umpire.
Ever wished there was an umpire in your mind? You know, those times when you are struggling with making a decision. If you’re like me, you over analyze the problem, leaving you with numerous possibilities, which then makes it even harder to come to a conclusion. Many times we reach out to someone we trust, asking for their advice. This is a good practice when we have solid people in our lives who are known for their wisdom.
I remember several years ago I was truly tormenting myself with a decision. It was a serious situation, but I didn’t trust myself. I kept second guessing, looking at it from every angle, weighing the pros and cons, frustrated. I felt I knew what I should do, but it didn’t make sense to me. That inner voice whispering to me went against all my natural instincts. It wouldn’t make sense to anyone else either, how would I explain my choice?
I went with the inner voice. Later when the crisis was over, I did talk to a wise person. In exposing my inward struggle to her, she said the simplest thing, but as soon as she said it I knew I had made the right choice:
Follow peace.
Colossians 3:15 says “And let the peace, soul harmony which comes from Christ, act as umpire continually in your hearts, deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state to which as members of Christ’s one body you were also called to live. And be thankful, giving praise to God always.“
We were called to live in peace, and Jesus provided His peace to be the umpire!! He is always there, ready to help us make the right decisions, decisions we don’t have to torment ourselves over. Decisions that will be exactly right for the final outcome. Did others understand my decision? Some did, some did not. But I have the absolute assurance that it was what He wanted me to do. The reasons were revealed to me later, reasons that allowed me to move forward with my life in even greater peace.
Follow peace. This umpire calls it right every time!!
Our Passionate Purpose 