What's in Your Bag?

I've played softball since before I could walk. Okay, probably not that long. But when you're playing a championship softball game at midnight on a 'school' night and realize that some of the folks you've played with off and on for years are, in fact, 47 years old then you've played softball for a LONG time.

And when you've played that long, you grow very accustomed to your equipment - glove, batters glove, bat, etc. But for me, once I left the world of competitive fast pitch softball the one piece of equipment I've never grown accustomed to is my bat - or bats. I've carried two bats around in my bag for years, but was convinced that they weren't as good as my teammates' bats. So, for years I've used other people's bats leaving my sad-excuse-for-a-hitting-implement tucked safely away in my bag. I must have had a good reason for not using the bats that I own - like they don't hit well :) - but I can't remember.

Because of the amount of rain outs early this season, our champship games ended up being played in July, so a few of our bats were on vacation. As our team piled in the dugout, it became obvious that the beautiful, dirty orange bat that I usually use out of the office with no access to email. In fact, several of our bats decided to take a leave that week. I was faced with a choice. Roll the dice with a new, unknown bat or dig my two sluggers out of my bag.

Determined to use my own bat to make a stronger case for buying a new $300 powerhouse, I hung both my little, fast pitch bat and big, slugging slow pitch bat on the fence. Upon seeing my bats, one of my teammates literally commented on their vintage. Yeah, I know.

But you know what, I hit better that night with my big, slugging slow pitch bat than I usually hit with any other bat. Call it coincidence? Maybe. But the thing that crossed my mind is how often I long for and try to use other people's stuff instead of celebrating and using my own. I mean, how many times have I wanted 'her job' or 'his intelligence' or 'her creativity'. And really, I'm a masterpiece in my own right. Uniquely made by the Creator of the universe. With my own set of mad skills and talents. As we each are. So I challenge you (and me) today to celebrate yourself and ask God to show you you. How He made you. What He called you to do. What He has gifted and blessed you with already. What's in your bag?