Triumph’s Secret

            I chuckled, when I read something a few years ago, the Academy Award Winning Actress, Maurine Stapleton, said, "I've been asked repeatedly what the 'key' to acting is, and as far as I'm concerned, the main thing is to keep the audience awake."

            Now, more than ever, I’m convinced achievements, even great achievements, are NOT based upon complicated maneuvers. Rather, achievements are the result of a number of simple things, done in proper order, and done well.

            I am reminded of this every time someone gives me an email address over the phone. If I miss one letter, nothing will work. But if I slow down and work methodically (“a” as in “apple”, “c” as in “cow”….), everything will function fine.

            Every triumph includes this question: what can I do right now to meet the goal?

Details

C.S. Lewis once wrote: "Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of."

The Two Pitches Walter Johnson Would Take Back

By September 29, 1913, the Washington Senators had been eliminated from the pennant race in the American League. The Boston Red Sox were in town for a meaningless game.

The game was played in Washington D. C., in front of a small crowd that included 6000 servicemen from military bases in the area. The soldiers had brought their own band, which played tunes to amuse themselves. The game took on the atmosphere of a comedy.

The Washington manager, Clark Griffith, rotated players in his lineup. Even the great pitcher, Walter Johnson, played center field.

In the top of the ninth, Washington seemed to have a safe lead of 10 to 3. Boston almost caught up by scoring six runs, making the score 10 to 9. Manager Griffith then brought in Walter Johnson to pitch. In the spirit of the game, he faced two batters and lobbed two fat pitches, which were turned into base hits. Both runners scored and were charged to Johnson's Earned Run Average (ERA.)

As Jack Cavanaugh wrote in his excellent biography, WALTER JOHNSON A LIFE, there was a price Walter Johnson “paid for an afternoon's frolic.”

Before that game, Walter Johnson had compiled an ERA of 1.09. However, the two earned runs the Johnson gave up in the “farce game” drove his ERA up from 1.09 to 1.14. Still, this was a record that lasted for 55 years.

Fast-forward to the 1968 baseball season, “the year of the pitcher.” Bob Gibson posts a 1.12 ERA. This becomes the all-time standard for a season’s earned run average, surpassing Walter Johnson’s 1.12.

Two teeny, tiny runs in a meaningless ballgame, but they were enough to mark a difference. Walter Johnson is forever relegated to having the second greatest season in terms of ERA of all time.

Decisions have consequences. A night of drinking can lead to an automobile accident and cause a lifetime of disability. One can engage in an indiscriminate, sexual act, and can contract a sexually transmitted disease for life. A marriage decision based upon passion and fantasy can create a marriage of heartache and loneliness. An unethical legal practice can lead to permanent disbarment. Texting on a cell phone while driving can lead to deadly car accident.

Wisdom requires recognition of consequences.

Prov. 20:25 It is a snare to say rashly, "It is holy," and to reflect only after making vows. ESV

Rolling Doubles

A few years ago, I read a fascinating book called THE GAME MAKERS. It told about the invention, manufacturing, and selling of some of America's most famous board games.

According to the book, an unemployed man, named Charles Brace Darrow, arrived at the office of Parker Brothers during the early years of the Great Depression. He had invented a game about buying, developing, and selling real estate. At first, representatives of Parker Brothers were not impressed. However, as the Great Depression deepened, that made the decision to purchase the board game.

A lot of work had to be done with the game, but after several conceptual changes, the company felt they had a viable product. However, George Parker, one of the founding partners, arrived from Europe and analyzed what his brain trust had produced. He was still very concerned over flaws he found in the game's rules. Parker was a stickler for details, and he believed one of the essential items of a good board game was well-written rules.

Parker set about re-writing the rules. He spent three days alone debating with members of his staff the wording of the rule regarding throwing doubles. Ultimately, his hard work paid off. MONOPOLY remains the gold standard of board games to this day.

Organization and administration are two words that are often considered "dirty" in today's churches. This is a mistake. George Parker's concern for details and organization reflected a God, who is detailed and organized. Just check out Genesis One and Two in its account of the creation.

I believe the organization and administration done in God's name, for the sake of God's kingdom, and in imitation of God, make for better churches. How about you?