Home Runs

Home Runs

From Grace for All by Jim Stovall, Greta Smith, First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN

May 31, 2026 · 6 min · Season 24 · Episode 926

About this episode

The episode explores the unpredictability of life through the metaphor of hitting home runs in baseball.

Proverbs 16:2-3 All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Recently someone spoke to me of home runs. He seemed to speak with amazement and wonder. But I wonder if it is really something to marvel at. Please bear with my labored sports metaphor. Whether we contemplate the greatest hitters of all time or the average hitter, certain things are a given in the game. When we walk to the plate, many variables are out of our control and each attempt is a once in a lifetime situation. Whether it is a pitcher we have never faced or simply the uncertainty of what pitch will be thrown next, we struggle to predict what will come next. Even on days when we are on our home field where we have practiced and we are facing our best known opponents, we still don't control the wind, the brightness of the sun, or the noise and distraction of the crowd. And what about when the bat shatters? Then there is the uncertainty of traveling to an unfamiliar ballpark. Every field has a different distance to the fence. Some ballparks are famous for unforgiving conditions like swirling winds. Fenway park even…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jim Stovall, Greta Smith

Topics covered

  • faith
  • motivation
  • sports metaphor
  • uncertainty
  • planning

Keywords

  • home runs
  • Proverbs 16:2-3
  • motives
  • planning
  • sports metaphor

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: First United Methodist Church

Books & works: Proverbs

Places: Maryville, TN

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