"I Was Born This Way"

     As I've mentioned before, baseball is a game of failure. Throughout all my years of playing, coaching, and watching the sport I've seen players define themselves by their mistakes. I hear things like, "I just can't hit", "I can't throw a strike", "I just can't play baseball", or "I'm just not good". I even heard one time, "I'll never get better. I just wasn't born to play baseball." It made me think of all the times I struck out growing up in super league and how many times my pitching wasn't good enough. I fell short many times, but one of the biggest parts of baseball is overcoming the times when we're at our worst. Even the best players in the world struggle with slumps, but they're the best at overcoming them. That's why they get paid millions of dollars to play the game. Nolan Ryan once said, "One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where to have to, reach down and prove something." The players that let themselves think that they aren't born to play baseball are also the ones who don't handle pressure situations very well. Instead of thinking, "I'm going to make the big play" they think instead, "I hope I don't get out". THIS ALSO GOES FOR COACHES. Coaches play a huge role in the development of their players. A successful coach will lead by example of showing how hard things can be done, but also infusing this confidence into the team. Ultimately, it's the players who have to reach down inside themselves if the team wants to get better.

     Last week, one of the players on our 14U Chargers team threw a no-hitter. He had been struggling to this point finding the strikezone and going deep into games, but this game he found something else inside of him. In the first inning, he realized that he is better than the team he was facing. His demeanor changed and he threw a lot more strikes, eventually throwing the team's first no-hitter. After the game I took the opportunity to teach the players about that. When you're on the mound, you have to believe that you're better than the batters you're facing. Your pitches are better, you throw more accurately, and you throw more innings. Of course there are days where the other team will hit you, but all you can do be mentally tough and bounce back for the next time you go back out on the mound.

     Now onto the spiritual side. I believe that we all have specific weaknesses in life that we are dealing with. Just like in baseball, we fine-tune our skills in life in order to be more productive. Sometimes, we fall into the trap of believing that we are defined by our weaknesses and that we are simply "born this way". I know that we have a divine heritage. We have been created by an Almighty God that loves us more than we can comprehend. When Jesus was on the earth, he went away fasting and praying. Satan goes to him and tempts him. Satan attacks his very divine heritage as the Son of God. With the phrase, "if thou be the Son of God" he wants to make Jesus doubt that he was foreordained to be the Savior of the world. It's interesting to me that Christ responded with scriptures. He showed His knowledge by saying, "it is written" and quoting the doctrine that corresponded with that temptation. (Matthew 4: 1-11)

     You and I were born to be great. We were born in the Latter-Days to bring to pass the Restoration of the Gospel. We were saved for this generation because we have a lot to offer. Just like Jesus Christ, we were sent to this earth for a divine purpose. Trust in the Atonement of Christ. Pray always. Read the scriptures daily. By doing this, I know that we will further understand how special we are to our loving Father in Heaven. He knows you by name, He knows your capabilities, and He wants the very best for you. He hears your prayers, and is ever willing to answer them. He doesn't define you by your sins, but instead sees your eternal worth. All we need to do is sincerely desire to be better and turn to Him. Immediately, we will see a difference in our lives. We will have more self-worth, self-confidence, and an internal desire to do God's will.