A Taste of My Own Medicine

We are all guilty at times of walking away from Half Two potential, in its various forms.

Serving in this area of ministry, you’d think I’d know better. One June evening a few years ago as I flipped through TV channels, I saw that the San Francisco Giants led the Houston Astros 10-0 after five innings. This game had a foregone conclusion; I was not about to waste my time watching it. I even told Judy that I felt sorry for the fans sitting through the remaining four innings. “There is no way they will come back,” I said with smug authority.

I was right. Houston didn’t mount a comeback. Not surprisingly, the game ended with that same fifth inning score, 10-0.

What I failed to observe, though, by changing channels so quickly, was that the Giants’ pitcher Matt Cain had a perfect game going. Those fans, whom I pitied earlier, were fortunate enough to witness the first perfect game ever in the Giants’ franchise, the 22nd perfect game in Major League Baseball history. Cain also tied Sandy Koufax’s record for the most strikeouts in a perfect game, 14. Better than a no-hitter, a perfect game means no opposing team member reaches first base.

And I, a strong advocate for Half Two potential, missed out on the live drama of those last four innings. I was so right about the outcome—and completely wrong.

And the pity I was feeling for those fans? Ironically, it’s the same kind of “bless your heart” pity Judy and I sometimes sense from people when they hear we’re working with older adults. They, too, haven’t reached first base in grasping how exciting Half Two ministry can be.