One of the things I love most about coaching is watching kids rise to the occasion and battle when times get tough. They may not be able to control the outcome, but they can control how they battle. There's something special about the battle between a pitcher and a batter. The pressure is real—anxiety, even fear—but the team rallies around, offering encouragement. We have an incredibly fast pitcher on our team, and I've noticed three typical responses from the batters: Freeze—where they just stand still, Fight—where they battle with all they've got, and Flight—where they jump out of the batter's box. This past season, one batter actually did both—he jumped out of the box, then right back in, and believe it or not, he got a hit!
In football, I see that same battle during one-on-one Oklahoma drills. The boys face off, one trying to block while the other fights to break through. There's a raw focus and intensity, and in their eyes, you can see sheer determination. As teammates cheer on both sides, there’s a sense of camaraderie that builds in this kind of environment.
Cross-country, though, is where I feel the deepest emotions. Maybe it’s because I know how physically exhausted the runners are, but you can see them giving everything they have. When I watch my son run, I can’t help but reflect on how far he’s come. Watching the other runners, with their different body types and running styles, I’m in awe of each one because I know they’re all fighting their own battles. Yesterday, I saw one of our runners coming down a hill with his mother about 70 yards ahead. Just as I was about to shout words of encouragement, I heard her call out, telling him to run in honor of his brother who had passed away the year before. At that moment, I couldn’t even speak—I was overcome with emotion.
We battle best when our team is behind us, when we’re focused and determined, and when our motivation comes from deep within. Sometimes we battle for ourselves, but the most powerful and inspiring moments come when we battle for others—and for Christ.
Communion reminds us that the ultimate battle has already been won. Jesus’ love for us, shown through His sacrifice on the cross, gives us the strength to keep battling, not just for ourselves but for others as well. Jesus won the greatest battle on the cross, and while the fight for our salvation is finished, we still face daily struggles against the devil’s schemes.
This morning, as we prepare for communion, let us focus on Ephesians 6:10-18 as the foundation of our prayer.
