Shining a Light from the Dugout

By: Chris Johnson

The University of Oklahoma is one win away from the claiming the title of 2023 Women’s College World Series champions, as they face off against Florida State.

In a post-game press conference with several OU players they were asked by an ESPN reporter about how they keep the joy in the game when it can bring so much anxiety. This was Golden Glove winner Grace Lyon’s response: “The only way you can have a joy that doesn’t fade away is from the Lord. And any other type of joy is actually happiness that comes from circumstances and outcomes… Thankfully, we’ve had a lot of success this year, but if it was the other way around, joy from the Lord is the only thing that can keep you embracing those memories, those moments, friendships, and all of that…”

Lyon’s teammate Jayda Coleman picked it up from there, recalling how she’d been a part of a WCWS winning team before, but she “just didn’t feel joy. I didn’t know what to do the next day. I didn’t know what to do the following week. I didn’t feel filled.

And I had to find Christ in that, and I think that is what makes our team so strong is that we’re not afraid to lose, because it’s not the end of the world if we do lose…. Because our life is in Christ and that’s all that matters.”

Then the third teammate, Alyssa Brito chimed in: “we’re really just fixing our eyes on Christ, and that’s something where, like they were saying, you can’t find a fulfillment in an outcome, whether it’s good or bad, and I think that’s why we’re so steady in what we do and our love for each other and our love for the game, because we know this game is giving us the opportunity to glorify God…

What a powerful message. How incredible is it that we can find an outpost of the Kingdom of God in the dugout of a secular, state university, where a team encourages each other to keep their eyes on Christ!

I was encouraged lately by a batting coach to look up the amazing career of a former University of Michigan softball player to set up as a role model for my daughter.

I didn’t get very far before I realized she lived a lesbian lifestyle. This is something we get used to, especially in “Pride Month.” Every major league logo turned to a rainbow, every ballpark has a “pride night,” the Dodgers give the stage to a blasphemous drag troupe and the “Christians” on the team hardly make a peep.

How refreshing in the midst of all that to hear the testimonies of these players. I love that I can point to these girls as a role model for my own little softball fan and share their perspective on winning with her, even as we head into a Little League All Stars tournament this weekend.

As it’s Grace Lyons’ final season, the official NCAA Softball Twitter account filmed a video of her reflecting back on her college softball career. Here’s some of what she said:

“The Lord has given me a platform to shine a light that the world tries to dim. The expectation is to idolize you and the promise is that true joy comes from reaching a goal that you have put all of your effort into. Yes, we as Christians are called to work hard at all that we do for Christ, but the real victory has already been won on the cross, Jesus dying for my sin and saving me…”

Amen! May this team and these players continue to shine the light of Christ!

 

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