I remember watching a Cardinals game when I was in high school, when the great (nay, legendary!) Ozzie Smith was in the twilight of his hall of fame career. On one particular play, the hitter bounced a single past Smith. It would have been a tough play, but nothing The Wizard couldn’t have handled. Yet, it bounced just beyond his outstretched glove and rolled into left-center for a hit. Sure, he had committed errors before, but this was different. He simply hadn’t been able to get there. And in that moment I realized that an era was ending. He was human after all. He would age, slow down, and retire, just like everyone else.
It is required that a man be able to bring order to chaos, that he be a solid rock for his family, a fence post, a repairman, a constant example to his kids and whoever else may be watching (especially when they’re not), a servant, a lawman, perpetually vigilant (yes, even when sleeping), provider, problem-solver, kids’ playmate, defender, teacher, gentle, strong, brave, and calm under fire. And if we falter, even for a moment, in any one of those responsibilities, the consequences could be dire. That’s a lot to ask of one person, a person with weakness, character flaws, etc. So, how do we do it? How can we stay sharp? How can we hold up without losing our sanity?
We do it by remembering that it is not we who accomplish the work, but the Lord. “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young” (Isaiah 40:11). Let us never fall into the mindset that we are enough, and that our own strength will save us. Instead, “through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). Just as any other warrior would, we train ourselves to stay sharp. We train ourselves as Jesus did, regularly secluding Himself to pray, and by hiding His Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).