Will Kickball Make You a Saint?

Kickball was a huge deal in my neighborhood. My house was the one with the large, nicely mowed field (thanks dad) and so the kickball games always happened there. We would play until it was too dark to see the ball and the mosquitoes too unbearable. It was really fun but kind of stressful too.

I remember when all that mattered to me was being able to kick that yellow rubber ball past the tree line and be the fastest to sprint around the bases. It sounds bad, but I didn’t care about the important things like getting to heaven and becoming a saint. All I wanted was to be the best at kickball and I felt like if I wasn’t, my friends would think less of me or not want me around.

Maybe that one thing for you isn’t kickball. Maybe it’s basketball, football, art or music. Only you know. It seems like this one skill is all you want and it’s the only thing that matters for people to like you.

If people only like you for what you can “do,” what happens if you stop doing it?

You were made good

There’s so much more about who you are. Your worth isn’t dependent on what skills you have. When God made you He said, “Yes! This is awesome!” (I’m paraphrasing Genesis 1:31) God doesn’t make mistakes and you’re no exception. You are exactly who He intended you to be.

One of the things that the “world” is trying to make you believe is that if you don’t do something epic you’re not good enough. But they (whoever they are) don’t put value on things like becoming holier, loving those around you and growing closer to God.

Sainthood = Epic

Sainthood is pretty epic if you ask me. Just look at how we admire the saints and study them. We try to imitate them not for what skills they had, but because they understood how to love God and their neighbors.

If you take a step back and look at the big picture of your life, is this one fault, or this one area where you’re not good enough going to ruin everything? Probably not.

Many parts, one body

In 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, St. Paul talks about how the Church is one body and there are lots of different parts. He says if any one part tries to be a different part – that’s not cool. Or if one body part says to another, “yo, we don’t need you.” That’s trouble too. St. Paul is saying that everyone has their own place and their own talents. Each part is important and needed to make up the whole.

Just like each of us is important and needed. What if everyone was an artist? We wouldn’t have computers, cars, iPads or ham sandwiches – just nice paintings and sculptures. What fun would that be?

So you’re not good at everything. It’s ok. God has a plan for you and He is trying to make you a holier person through whatever you struggle with. Give your frustration to him and you’re way ahead of the game.

A career in kickball doesn’t sound too promising anyway.

I’m praying for you.