You can't just swing to swing; the danger of living casually

Last week while I was working out, I kept being drawn to the batting cages on my right. Through the worn down nets, I was continually captivated by the bright yellow balls. Instinctively, I picked up an even more worn bat and began to swing casually.

The first ten times I swung, nothing went in the direction I had hoped. I laughed at myself and thought “you must have lost it”. Almost immediately there was an echo in my mind of words I had said for many years before. 

“You’ve gotta get set up before you swing. Make eye contact, pivot, and follow through. You can’t swing just to swing, you’ve gotta swing with intention. Don’t worry about anything else except connecting with what’s coming directly at you.”

As I reiterated these words in my mind, I could feel the power shift through my hands. I could feel my feet becoming more firm and my aim becoming more accurate. No longer was I casually swinging but I was intentionally setting myself up to connect and follow through.

I’ve been learning a lot about the dangers of living casually and the power that flows through us when we live with intent. Anyone can stand at the plate, start swinging, and completely miss the thing they were intended to connect with.

You’ve gotta get set up before you swing; “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” -Matthew 6:33A

Make eye contact; “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” -Jeremiah 29:13

Pivot and follow through; “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:13-14

You can’t swing just to swing, you’ve gotta swing with intention; “I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart” -Jeremiah 24:7

Don’t worry about anything else except connecting with what’s coming directly at you; “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” -John 17:3

Intentionality matters, focus is required, pivoting is pivotal, follow through is crucial, and casual swings in the right direction will never lead to a Divine Connection.