thefinishline 06/28/10
The Importance of Our Best
By Aaron M. Little
Eight years ago, B. J. Upton put my tiny, private school alma mater on the map by being one of baseball’s top prospects after playing at Greenbrier Christian Academy. At the time, it was more than exciting to hear national sports journalists mention GCA, a school that routinely has graduating classes of around 50 students in Chesapeake, VA. Unfortunately, B. J., now a starting center-fielder for the Tampa Bay Rays, is becoming the poster boy for lack of hustle during games. The latest incident was highlighted over the weekend when teammate Evan Longoria approached him in the dugout to challenge him after he jogged towards a ball hit in the outfield instead of sprinting. As you can see in the video, B.J. didn't care for being challenged, but I’d say he deserved the confrontation if not more.
But alas, this is not a forum to slam B. J. Upton, but rather an opportunity to re-examine the importance of doing our best in whatever we do. The temptation to cut corners and choose the path of least resistance is always there and usually quite attractive, but it’s not the path to excellence. The Bible instructs us to partake in hard work and pursue excellence. Not hustling or cutting corners is quite simply not doing your best and that is not what God asks of us as Christians. 2 Timothy 2:15 makes it pretty clear, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” This applies to sports, school, work, relationships, parenting...just about anything we put our hands to in this life. Be encouraged, and in all you do, do your best!
Eight years ago, B. J. Upton put my tiny, private school alma mater on the map by being one of baseball’s top prospects after playing at Greenbrier Christian Academy. At the time, it was more than exciting to hear national sports journalists mention GCA, a school that routinely has graduating classes of around 50 students in Chesapeake, VA. Unfortunately, B. J., now a starting center-fielder for the Tampa Bay Rays, is becoming the poster boy for lack of hustle during games. The latest incident was highlighted over the weekend when teammate Evan Longoria approached him in the dugout to challenge him after he jogged towards a ball hit in the outfield instead of sprinting. As you can see in the video, B.J. didn't care for being challenged, but I’d say he deserved the confrontation if not more.
But alas, this is not a forum to slam B. J. Upton, but rather an opportunity to re-examine the importance of doing our best in whatever we do. The temptation to cut corners and choose the path of least resistance is always there and usually quite attractive, but it’s not the path to excellence. The Bible instructs us to partake in hard work and pursue excellence. Not hustling or cutting corners is quite simply not doing your best and that is not what God asks of us as Christians. 2 Timothy 2:15 makes it pretty clear, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” This applies to sports, school, work, relationships, parenting...just about anything we put our hands to in this life. Be encouraged, and in all you do, do your best!