Just by Inches

This past weekend, the participants for this year's World Series were determined.  My interest isn't as strong this year since neither the Baltimore Orioles or the San Francisco Giants are in the World Series.  The good news is that neither the New York Yankees or the LA Dodgers made it to the World Series either.  However, it is a little sad for an Orioles fan to see the Red Sox back in the fall classic.  Of course, I used to be able to count on the Curse of the Bambino with the Red Sox but they finally won a World Series since trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees.

Seeing the Red Sox brings to mind one pivotal picture.  It is from thirty eight years ago when the Red Sox  were playing the Cincinnati Reds for the World Series championship.  In the sixth game of the series, the score had been tied and the game went to extra innings.  Then, at 12:34 in the morning, Carlton Fisk came to bat at the bottom of the 12th. He cracked Pat Darcy’s pitch hard to the left. He stood at the plate, bouncing up and down and flailing at the ball as though he was helping an airplane land on a dark runway. "I was just wishing and hoping.   I like to think that if I didn’t wave, it would have gone foul." Whether or not the waving was responsible, the ball bounced off of the bright-yellow foul pole above the Green Monster for a home run. Fenway’s organist played the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah while Fisk rounded the bases.  A few inches farther and the ball would have been foul and the game would have continued.

Isn't it amazing how such a small number can make a big difference.  It's like when you are working on a project and someone shows up unexpectedly to give you a hand.  All of a sudden, a little help can make all the difference.  Yesterday, during church, we had problem with the plumbing at church.  Most everyone in the sanctuary were oblivious to what was going on, including the pastor.  But a few servants noticed the flooding and with a little help were able to get it under control and fix the problem.  These folks not only solved the problem, but cleaned the entire nursery (Several times) where the flooding had taken place.  just a few people made a huge difference that the rest of us never even noticed.  All we knew was we were not allowed to use the bathrooms at church.  As I sit at the church computer this morning, the entire nursery is clean and put back in order to minister again this coming Sunday morning.  Just a few people have made a huge difference.

You can make that kind of a difference today.  Think about someone you haven't seen at church in a while.  How about giving them a call or stopping by to visit them?  You never know what a huge impact your smiling face may have on someone.  It's just a matter of inches!  We get too busy with our own lives and miss out on these opportunities, so let this Sip remind you to touch a life today.  How many of us have been encouraged by someone who took the time to notice us or ask how we were doing?  Like our missionaries reminded us last week, be a four question person.  Take the time to ask four questions of someone and just listen.  You can change the world for one person.  Oh, you won't make the cover of Sports Illustrated, but you will cause the angels to celebrate.  Not a bad way to spend a day.  So go ahead and make that call, send that card or visit that person.  You'll be glad you did.