Sometimes you can show up on time, put on the uniform, stand in the right place... and still not really be there.

Sunday afternoon, the Orioles had a 1:30 game.

Not 7:30 in the morning.

Not some brutal sunrise start.

1:30 in the afternoon.

And somehow, we looked like half the team had been up all night Saturday.

We couldn’t buy a hit.

We struggled with walks.

We had overthrows.

We looked flat.

We used three pitchers, one each inning, and our first two each gave up five runs.

By the time we got to the third inning, we were in a deep hole.

But one player stood out.

Skyler.

With the bases loaded, he ripped a triple and drove in three of our four runs.

Then he took the mound in the third and held them to just one run.

Rhys also made a great defensive play, catching the ball and throwing out a runner at first.

Final score:

Orioles 4. Opponent 11.

We lost.

But the scoreboard wasn’t the only thing worth noticing.

Because there’s a difference between being there and being engaged.

Adults do this too.

We show up for work.

We sit at dinner.

We go to church.

We attend the meeting.

We stand on the sidelines.

But sometimes our body arrives before our attention does.

Romans 12:11 says:

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Not every day automatically brings out our best.

Sometimes we have to choose to engage.

Choose to focus.

Choose to be ready.

Skyler didn’t change the final score.

But when his opportunities came...

he was awake for them.

So ask yourself:

Where am I showing up without really being present?

Because you can’t control how everybody else shows up.

But when the ball comes your way...

you can be ready.

🎙️ Summit After the Storm Podcast
Season 6: Lessons in Real Time
📖 Summit After the Storm releases November 10
🌐 SummitAfterStorm.com

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