Mound Visits, 3/21/17
Pitcher, Brian Reed, finally made his high school team as a senior (he was cut his junior year). He attended Kentucky the following year and decided to try out for our team. We had a good staff, but lacked depth. The skinny right-hander didn’t throw very hard, but made the team as a walk-on…barely. That spring, after playing 9 games, Brian had yet to pitch. One day after practice he walked up to me and asked simply, “Coach, I want to pitch. Will you give me a shot on the mound?” It wasn’t as much the question, but it was the way he asked it. He had confidence in himself and his attitude was right. His first game soon after that was against a weak opponent and he had surprising success. His second game was against nationally ranked Norte Dame; he struck out 7 in a row during one stretch and we won! Eventually, Brian became one of the best relief pitchers in the SEC and even pitched professionally in the Cardinals organization.
Sometimes, we don’t have because we don’t ask. God urges us to boldly approach His throne with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). Sometimes, we ask with the wrong motives (James 4:3). And many times, simply, as James says, “You do not have because you do not ask God.” (James 4:2)
