Perceptions #200307

"Just Let Me Bat"

by Malcom Hill

I'm a great admirer of Richard M. "Pek" Gunn's work. He is the Poet Laureate of Tennessee. He has written many poems that have thrilled my heart and have given men encouragement as Christians even though his poems are not all necessarily religious. In fact most of them are not.

He wrote the following poem, which I dearly love, and to me it is the spirit of the real Christian. The title of the poem is

THE OPTIMIST.

I passed a sand lot yesterday,
Some kids were playing ball,
I strolled along the third base line
Within the fielder's call.
"Say, what's the score?" I asked the chap,"
He yelled to beat the stuffin'
"There's no one out, the bases are full
and they're forty-two to nuthin!"
"You're getting beat, aren't you my lad?"
And then in no time flat,
He answered, "No sir, not as yet!
Our side ain't been to bat!"

The following statement was made by Mr. Gunn about this poem, "We smile at these lines, but this is the spirit that caused John Paul Jones to say, 'I've just begun to fight.' It sustained Washington at Valley Forge. It built all our schools and churches, and it is this never give up spirit of the American people that says, 'I don't care how much is against me, I can still win! Just let me at bat."

The Bible teaches us never to give up and quit as Christians in the Christian life. If a thing is worth fighting for, then let's fight. If it is not, then let's forget about it. Is Christianity worth fighting for? Is the Bible? Is Christ? Is doctrinal truth? If so, then let's fight if necessary! Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13).

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