Carried Around the Bases

In April 2008, Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky stepped to the plate in a college softball game against Central Washington. She had never hit a home run in her four-year career. But that afternoon, she drove the ball over the center field fence. Rounding first base, her knee buckled. She had torn her ACL and collapsed on the dirt in agony.

The umpires ruled that if her own teammates touched her, she would be called out. Her historic home run would be reduced to a single. That is when something no one expected happened.

Mallory Holtman, Central Washington's first baseman and the conference's all-time home run leader, walked over and asked the umpire a simple question: "Can we carry her?" There was no rule against it. So Mallory and teammate Liz Wallace gently lifted Sara between them and carried her around the bases, pausing at each bag so she could touch it with her good leg. The opposing team carried her home.

That is the gospel in cleats. Grace never comes from those who owe it to you. It comes from the most unexpected place, from the One who had every reason to stand against you. Paul writes in Romans 5:8, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." We were face down on the base path with nothing left. And the God of all grace bent down, lifted us, and carried us home. Not because we earned it, but because that is who He is.

You have never been too broken for His arms to reach.