I love the movie, “Hoosier.” It’s a great story about a small town Indiana high school that goes on to win the state championship. The school gets a new coach, who the townsfolk didn’t appreciate and wanted fired. They hold a town meeting to vote whether to keep or oust the coach. Well, they vote to get rid of the coach.

Then in walks Jimmy Chitwood, the star player from the year before who decided not to be on the team. All eyes are on Jimmy as he makes his way to the front and turns around nervously to address the gathered townspeople. Then he says,

“I don’t know if it’ll make any change, but I figure it’s about time for me to start playing ball.”

The crowd erupts in applause, with one of the men yelling, “I told ya! Once we got rid of him (pointing to the coach)!” Jimmy continues, “One other thing. I play, coach stays. He goes, I go.” The town votes again and the coach is retained. And the rest is Indiana basketball history.

Now, I write all that to say, one day last week while praying, I heard, out of the blue, Jimmy Chitwood saying those words, “I figure it’s about time for me to start playing ball.” What immediately came to mind was this blog. I felt God’s strong leading to start writing again. To start writing my thoughts I am learning in my journey to abide in Christ.

After taking a long hiatus, I realized writing my thoughts really help me to focus on abiding. It’s too easy to just mosey along, hoping I am taking steps in the right direction.

Recently, a quote from Hudson Taylor, kick started my soul.

“Abiding in Jesus isn’t fixing our attention on Christ, but it is being one with Him … A man is abiding just as much when he is sleeping for Jesus, as when he is awake and working for Jesus. Oh, it is a very sweet thing to have one’s mind just resting there.” — Hudson Taylor

So, it’s time for me to start playing ball. I pray along with Andrew Murray

“Holy Lord Jesus, the heavenly Vine of God’s own planting, I beseech Thee, reveal Thyself to my soul. Let the Holy Spirit, not only in thought, but in experience, give me to know all that Thou, the Son of God, art to me as the true Vine.“

Amen!