Jim was weary.  There were days he felt like he didn’t belong in his profession.  Other times the pressures of life, namely bills, were dragging him down.  Some talked about him when he wasn’t around, and questioned his place. The weight of his feeling that he wasn’t able to be the father and husband he wanted to be because of the demands of the job almost crushed him.  He was ready to pack it in.  Ready to quit.

A few well placed words of encouragement, an epiphany like encounter beneath the lights of a little league field and the nod of a young center fielder eager to play the game all combined to remind Jim Morris about the game he was privileged to play.  His revelation was summed up in his grinning question the next day.

“Do you know what we get to do today Brooks? We get to play baseball.”

That was a turning point in Jim Morris’ life in the movie “The Rookie.”

I’ve been to Jim’s place: weary, ill equipped, uncomfortable, stressed, attacked, and feeling like a failed father, husband and pastor, and ready to pack it in.  But it is a great lift to remember where this great adventure began.  Remember what it is we do.

Gentleman, do you know what we get to do today?  We get to be pastors.