It has been a little while, but I’ve been at a loss for words recently. I’ve had trouble organizing my thoughts into a way that can tackle the world’s issues and personal issues as well. Although this year has felt dismal at times, there are lessons in everything. Some we see on our own, others we don’t understand until we live, and most we can’t grasp at all. As I’ve been thinking about what to post for days on end, I’ve realized most people are concentrating on hope.
Hope is a powerful feeling, ultimately synonymous to faith and prayer. It’s a feeling of wanting more, wanting betterment, wanting peace. But it is only a feeling until it is acted upon.
I hope we get to practice this fall. I hope we get to play this spring. If that takes no parties, limited socialization, social distancing, consistent testing and mask wearing, then so be it. That’s what it’ll take. As of now, we student-athletes can’t really see our teammates or our families, in order to control contact tracing and all of the other variables involved with this virus. If I have to sacrifice ‘the college experience’ to bring hope to life, I’m all for it.
I’ve heard the word hope a lot recently in my own world… “I hope there’s college football”…”I hope you guys can play in the spring”…”I hope classes get back to being in person.” I’ve heard all of that, yet it’s been met with no action. Saying one thing and then turning around and acting in a conflicting way shows that hope will never solely accomplish anything.
We as a nation right now have hope for a better future. Great… then what? Have enough hope to listen, have enough hope to hold yourself accountable, have enough hope to vote.
Almost everyone for forever has always hoped to make the world a better place for their kids. Everyone hopes their kids live in a world that will influence them the right way, but truthfully that starts with us. Our kids and our family and our friends are most easily influenced by each other because we share the most time together and likely common interests. The world can be a scary, unforgiving place that still produces good, sensible people. The world doesn’t raise us, our family does.
There are so many dreams and wishes that we express through hope but never act on. Sinners wish to grow closer to God, those suffering from addiction wish to be clean, etc. The difference between those who achieve change or not is rooted in action. It is he who picks up the Bible, who goes to church, who checks themselves into A.A. that sees the change.
As we find ourselves sad, confused, or scared, our natural response is hope for a new and better day. It’s time to take that one step further. In any situation, no matter how big or how small, take the action to lead to what you desire. Even if it is uncomfortable, even if you are the only one, even if you’re unsure, any action at all can change the way you feel. It’ll ultimately bring you peace of mind.
I understand the odds of being able to play college baseball through a global pandemic. I understand that I can’t change how other people choose to act, even if I want to. But regardless, I can be brought peace of mind in knowing that if I act on my hope, any shortcomings are not my fault. These are the things I’ve been chewing on how to say and convey to you.
The same goes for prayer. We typically pray for things that we want. “God please help me pass this test… please let me get this job… please help me financially,” are certainly acceptable forms of prayer, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to study, or that you don’t need to show up for your job interview. It all works hand in hand.
If you truly want something, you’ll do everything in your power to manifest it. Any action of any size. You must act on your hope to make something different. Even if it’s out of your control, at least you’ve done your part for the change you hope to achieve. Lead from the front. Your hope requires your action.
Until next time,
-B.F.
Super 8 