University of Dayton - MyLife

Audience of One

This weekend I probably played the best and worst games of my college softball career.

Let's talk about some of the lower points of the games. Coach decided to start me as the lead-off batter. I try really hard not to argue with Coach, so he knew he could put me there and I would not object. Most players had being the first batter. I do not have the speed or patience to be a leadoff batter. The leadoff batter should be the girl who gets on base the most often. On Saturday, the other team had a quick, consistent leadoff batter than I found satisfaction in trying to get out. I am not one of those batters. I got out pretty easily my first 2 or 3 at bats.

My fielding at catcher was adequate, as usual, but I've always been disappointed with no chances to throw runners out. In the second game, I had an opportunity to play short stop. I haven't taken infield since tryouts...so you can imagine what it looked like to have me playing there. Two throws weren't very good. I looked like a goof trying to catch a throwdown from the catcher.

And I acually dropped to my knees to BLOCK the first grounder that came to me. I didn't even realize it looked strange for me to do it. Until one of my roommates yelled something like 'Did you just block that? Wrong position, Katie! You're not catching anymore!" Because I had blocked the ball, my throw was off and the girl was safe.

I dropped a ROUTINE fly ball at the finish of the last game. I still don't know how I did that. I even had two hands on the ball. Well, I think I know how I did it. I was playing to impress my friends and family in the stands when I missed that fly ball. I was pressing to get a hit when my friends were there. I wanted them to think I was someone good.

My errors and poor hitting came in the beginning of the first game and at the end of the last game. I could tell you why. I was not focus on Audience of One.

Audience of One is the first of 5 sports principles I learned about this summer that help you apply living your life for Christ to your sport. Audience of One focuses on playing as if Christ is the only one watching. You aren't performing for your friends or family, but you are 'showing off' for God.

After quite a few bad at bats, I decided something had to change. We were losing 3-0 and I came up to lead us off in the sixth inning. As the home team, we still had 2 innings left to bat, and I decided it was time to focus on Audience of One. I was frustrated with myself for not focusing on Christ earlier, but for this at-bat I was playing solely for Christ. I hit a triple off the wall.

My team was fired up! They hit me in and we went into the 7th inning still down 3-1. The girls got off to a good start, with me coming up again in the 7th. This time there were 2 girls on base. I was the go-ahead run. I stepped up to the plate, ready to perform only for Christ. It was very freeing. And a crushed another triple. The game was tied. Kristie hit me in with a single for us to come from behind and win game one!

After a quick transition to game 2, the order shifted a bit and I was batting fifth. This time I stepped to the plate with complete confidence in the Almighty Lord, and I crushed yet another triple for Him! With God on my side, I was unstoppable. My next at bat, I was starting to think they might walk me...but no. I was given a chance to hit, yet again. I stepped up to the plate, repeating Audience of One in my head over and over again. This time I didn't hit a triple, the ball went over the fence. I had hit a homerun! I started sprinting, because after 3 triples, I didn't think the ball was going to ever make it over the fence. Once someone said it was over, I slowed up and really praised God. I didn't do any sort of pointing up or anything (Honestly, I forgot. And having never really 'played for Christ' before, I wasn't sure what to do.)

After the homerun I lost my focus on Christ. I moved from catcher to short stop and noticed that some friends were in the stands. I began playing to impress them (as it turns out, they missed the homerun). As a result I only got on by an error and made about 2-3 errors in the field that game.

This shows me that playing for Christ is the only thing I should be concerned about. I want this to carry over into my everyday life. I can't wait for our next games on November 1st. It's a rematch with Miami and we've got God on our side this time. Who knows what will happen.

Oct 19, 2009 1:30 AM Permalink