Those are the words that Jim Morris, The Rookie, delivers at the turning point of his story. After being on the road with his minor league team for a couple of months, he reaches his low point. He's tired. He's discouraged. He calls his wife to tell her he is coming home. During the conversation she tells him to make sure it is his decision because she does not want him to live with regret the rest of his life.
Pondering what to do, he hangs up and walks away from the phone booth when he sees the lights of a baseball field. He makes his way to the field and discovers it is a little league field. He leans on the outfield fence as he takes in the scene when he makes eye contact with a young player. It is only a brief exchange between a boy on the field and the boy inside of him, but it's long enough for him to remember why he loves the game.
The next morning he bounds through the locker room with a huge smile on his face. He finds his best friend on the team, puts his hand on his shoulder and says, "Brooks, you know what we get to do today?" Then, without giving time for an answer he says. "We get to play baseball!"
I've lost count on how many times I've watched that movie. I cry every time. The reason is that every time I see this scene I think, "That's how I want to live!" I want to wake up each day thinking, "Do you know what I get to do today? I get to live life to the fullest!" That's how I want to live. That's how I want my friends to live. That's how I want Kingdom people to live.
Here's how it would work.
Teachers would get up in the morning and say, "Today I get to teach children! I get to help them understand English, teach Math, take students on a journey through History, introduce them to the marvels of Biology, or walk with them through the faith building stories of the Bible."
Lawyers would go to their jobs with a smile on their faces and say, "Today I get to help people who have legal issues. I get to help bring justice to the world!"
Construction workers would step on the job site and say to their coworkers, "Guys, today we get to build a building!"
Librarians would be going into the "Quiet please" world of books and say, "Today I get to help people expand their imaginations with a book!" "Today I get to help a student do research that will in turn help them complete their education!"
Business men and business women would take delight in their day when they say, "Today I get to use my gifts and my talents in the business world to make the community a better place for all to live."
Police officers and firefighters would approach their duties with a confident, "Today I get to protect the citizens of our city."
Preachers would be waking up on a Sunday morning knowing, "Today I get to introduce people to the Creator of the Universe!"
What do you get to do today? Not what are you required to do today?
As Children of God every day is a gift from our Father to be used to glorify Him by loving people, by shining a light into a dark place, and by bringing hope to a hopeless soul. We get to live with God's Spirit flowing through us to demonstrate that we have been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of our sins, and we have been brought near to the living God.
Paul said it this way:
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV).
Today you get to tell someone that they are loved by God.
Today you get to bring joy into a joyless heart.
Today you get to share a story of how God has worked in your life.
Today you get to show someone how God has revealed Himself to you.
Today you get to live the abundant life God has planned for you.
You know what I get to do today? I get to share these words that come from the depths of my soul to bring refreshment to a tired and weary soul! That's what I get to do today!
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