The Long Road Back to First Base

On October 25, 1986, a slow ground ball rolled between Bill Buckner's legs at first base in Game 6 of the World Series. The Boston Red Sox lost to the New York Mets, and Buckner became the most blamed man in baseball. Death threats followed. His family had to relocate. For over two decades, his name was shorthand for failure in Boston — a city that had already waited sixty-eight years for a championship.

Then came April 8, 2008. Opening Day at Fenway Park. The Red Sox, having finally won the World Series in 2004, invited Buckner to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. When he walked onto that field, the sellout crowd rose to its feet. The ovation lasted nearly a minute. Buckner, visibly moved, tipped his cap and wiped his eyes.

Twenty-two years of blame, undone in sixty seconds of grace.

Scripture tells us that love keeps no record of wrongs. But we do keep records, don't we? We replay the error, rehearse the grievance, hold the grudge like a scoreboard that never resets. What happened at Fenway that afternoon was a city deciding to stop keeping score.

That is what the Almighty does with our sin. He does not replay the tape. He does not remind us of the error. He invites us back onto the field and gives us a standing ovation called mercy.

Who in your life is still waiting for that ovation?