The World Series begins tonight, and I’ve been thinking about prayer. What do those things have in common?  Perhaps not much. But consider:

We all like home runs. We like to watch them. And if we are playing, we like to hit them.  But if a player goes to the plate trying to hit a home run with every swing, he will usually strike out and end up on the bench.  Effectiveness is found in making contact, and usually hitting a lot of singles that add up to runs.  

I think this is where baseball and prayer might connect. 

In prayer we also like the home runs – those things that are so amazing that we stand in awe when we see God at work and our prayers answered.  Even if we are not the one who offered the prayer, we like to watch and hear stories of others who had prayers answered in a BIG way.  We seem to admire those who are gifted for prayer, and may even be a little envious.  But the fact is, when we pray most of the time we will not hit homers.  Many times the situation does not even call for it. Yet faithful singles add up.  If we understand this we are less prone to get frustrated or disappointed.  And occasionally a surge of power will amaze us.

By the way: Go Phillies!!