I read about an interesting World Series fact. STL Cardinals pitcher Arthur Rhodes played over 900 games in the Big Leagues before getting to stare down a batter in a World Series game. Only one other enduring pitcher had to wait that long, Juan Franco. He played in 940 games before experiencing the World Series. How interesting that Arthur Rhodes has a homonymous name matching roads. For how many roads did he literal travel commuting from city to city chasing his dream? Rhodes is a small glimpse at a larger meaning. If you keep your dream; endure the long roads; keep up the hard work, you can realize the impossible.

In pursuit of your spiritual breakthrough you may encounter roads of resistance, paths of persecution, and lanes of self-loathing. You may, at times, wonder if you will ever get to a place of relief, happiness, or serenity. After all the cocooning memories that keep morphing into nightmare anxieties you doubt things will ever change. It all seems to stay the same. Clock crushing casualties to your hopes. Perpetuating turbulent times. Ongoing delays of better pay, reconciled relationships, and estranged friendships.  At some point to you hope to hear the gong of midnight, the end to certain sufferings, and the dawn of better outcomes.

But like Arthur Rhodes you have to stay in the game. You have to believe that someday all the prayer, durability, and perseverance will pay off. Throw another pitch. Stand on the mound of impossibility and let God reward your faithfulness. Don’t be intimidated by the bat-swinging Babe Ruthian enemy standing at the plate, ready to send your ambitions sailing over disappointment’s fence. Believe you will have that metaphorical fist pumping moment when the Devil strikes out and you walk off the mound strengthened by grace, renewed by love, refreshed by mercy, enlivened by achievement, and revitalized by the miraculous. Let the people shake their head in disbelief at your against all odds prosperity.