Keep your eye on the ball...and everything else.

Last Saturday was my son's second baseball game.  He is in the coach pitch league where the kids are given three at bats and then a swing off the tee.  There's no keeping score and everybody gets to bat.  With the kids just trying to learn the basics, a ground ball turns into a melee with 5-6 kids trying to pick it up and chuck it to first.
And that is why my son's defensive play was so incredible.  Yes, I'm biased but there is no doubt that it was the best play of the game.  Ask anybody, and if they say different, I want to know who they are.
My son was playing P/3B, the hybrid position that he has claimed his own.  It's where most of the action is.     With him being so close to the batter, I urge him to keep his eye on the ball and be ready.  With those instructions fresh in his mind, a sharp bouncer came right at him.  It hit him directly in the chest and then fell nicely into his glove.  Not taking anytime to celebrate, Jackson turned to throw the ball to first and ran.  That's right, he started to run, just as every other fielder had been doing, towards first with the ball cocked and ready to throw once the distance was manageable.
But after a handful of strides, my son checked to see the status of the batter.  That's when he had a light bulb moment - "I'm running faster than him!"  He veered toward the baserunner and rightly tagged him out.  Even the opposing team's coach (who was pitching) gave him a high five and proclaimed, "awesome" as Jackson gave the ball back.
As we talked about this on the way home, Jackson summarized the play for my wife (who was on nap duty in the car) by proclaiming, "I just realized that I was faster than the runner so I went and tagged him out."  Although we have been trying, like all the other parents, to get him to throw without running to first, this play was worthy of affirmation.  The play itself was great, but his field awareness was especially good.  Because the key to baseball is to keep your eye on the ball and everything else.
I guess that's what the Apostle Paul was talking about with our spiritual lives in Ephesians 6:13 when he said, "Keep your eyes open."  Spiritual awareness is something that we often overlook.  Prayer, being a part of the Church, and studying scripture play important roles in our life changing relationship with Christ; just like keeping your eye on the ball.
But we also have to be aware of what's happening in our culture, our family and relationships.  Ask good questions and be prepared to answer tough ones that will come our way.  This is where wisdom kicks in.  Like Ephesians 5 says, "Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise."  We must stop, look around and think before we act or speak.  When we do so, I believe people will have to take notice and proclaim "awesome."