My youngest brother played baseball for USL back in the day. He was a pitcher. He told me a good story about a friend of his who was the starting pitcher for a big game, a very important conference game.
His friend was a good pitcher, but he had a terrible first inning. He gave up a single, a double, and a home run. That’s 3 runs right off the bat. Then another single, a double, and a home run. Another 3 runs. Then he gave up a double and another home run. Finally, after 8 runs had scored, he was mercifully taken out of the game. He sat down in the dugout with his head hanging low.
But then in the fourth inning, something happened. Guess what? It started raining and thundering and lightning. It rained harder and harder. The umpires huddled together and decided to call the game off. And so his terrible first inning, giving up 8 runs, was wiped off the books just like that. His terrible first inning NEVER happened. It was gone. It was wiped out by the rain.
Now that, to me, is a picture of grace. Our lives can sometimes get off track and get knocked around and our game is just off. Sometimes our game has been off for a long time. I am so thankful today for the grace of God that rains upon our lives.
It is offered to us through the One who said, “I am the way, the truth and life. No one comes to the Father, except by me.” That is our faith today.