The Sandlot is one of the best movies to capture what it's like to be a kid in the summer. Categorized as a baseball movie, it's also about friendship, growing up, getting into trouble, and soaking in the special season of life when you can play sports with your friends all day, go to the pool, and go on rides at the amusement park. Although very entertaining, one core theme found throughout this movie is the boys wrestling with fear. As you probably know, the story centers around "Smalls" moving into the neighborhood and trying to fit in with the other boys while learning to play baseball. Smalls takes a baseball signed by Babe Ruth from his stepdad's office without realizing its significance. After the ball gets hit over the fence where a scary dog lives, the boys tell him about Babe Ruth's legendary baseball career, and Smalls realizes he has to get it back before his stepdad finds out it's gone. The boys are in quite a predicament when faced with the ball being on the side of the fence where the scary "beast" or "giant gorilla-dog thing that ate one kid already" lives. Thankfully, the group leader, Benny Rodriquez, has a dream where Babe Ruth speaks to him and says, "Let me tell you something, kid. Everybody gets one chance to do something great. Most people never take the chance, either 'cause they're too scared...or they don't recognize it when it spits on their shoes. This is your big chance, and you shouldn't let it go by. Remember when you busted the guts out of the ball the other day? Someone's telling you something, kid. If I was you, I'd listen." The next day, Benny puts on his P.F. Flyers shoes, jumps over that fence, faces his fears, experiences some craziness, and saves the summer! Of course, this leads to a happy ending to the movie but also brings up a comparison to overcoming fears in our own lives. Fear always attempts to creep into our thoughts, and we tend to worry about what is on the "other side of the fence." However, we're allowing fear to hold us back until we jump over it and embrace what we must do. Like Babe Ruth told Benny, "Most people never take the chance, either 'cause they're too scared...or they don't recognize it when it spits on their shoes." What "beast" or "giant gorilla-dog thing" are we scared of today? What fears are crippling us? In what areas of our lives do we sense God is telling us to do something, but we're not obedient because we're too worried about what's on the other side? Thankfully, as followers of Jesus, we have the power and strength to step out in faith and jump over the fences in life. In these moments, we can remember the following two verses: "The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?" (Psalm 118:6; NLT). "The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?" (Psalm 27:1; NLT). Today, let's not be consumed with fear or worry but cling to the comforting words of Jesus: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid" (John 14:27; AMP). I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, fear often holds me back from obedience and stepping out in faith. Help me know when You're leading me to do something, and please give me the peace and confidence I need to go for it. I ask for Your strength and power to overcome my fears. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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